If you want to keep your smile healthy and attractive for years to come, it’s important that you take a comprehensive and holistic view of your oral health. This means working to maintain the supportive structure of your smile: the underlying tissues and jawbone, as well as your teeth.
In today’s article, our Elmhurst dentists are giving you some more information about gum disease: why it occurs, how it manifests, and how it can harm your smile. We hope that this info empowers you to take control of your own smile and keep gum disease at bay!
Gum disease develops when harmful oral bacteria are able to infiltrate a patient’s oral tissues. This can happen when gum tissue is weakened in general, when a patient’s gum develops cuts or sores, and when dental cavities are left to fester and spread to the gums.
Once you’ve developed gum disease, you might notice that your oral tissues look red and inflamed. Your gums may also be prone to bleeding, and they may feel sensitive. Gum disease is also associated with halitosis, or chronic bad breath. As periodontal disease becomes more severe your gums will actually start to pull away from your teeth forming something called periodontal pockets.
The key to treating periodontal disease is to minimize the number of active bacteria in your mouth, so that your gums are able to heal and regenerate. Patients who have experienced significant gum or jawbone deterioration may benefit from restorative grafts.
When gum disease is left unaddressed, it can spread throughout your smile. The very connective tissues that hold your teeth in place can stretch and loosen, leading to shifting dental alignment, and, eventually, tooth loss.
Our Elmhurst dentists are happy to give you any additional information that you need about gum disease, as well as the high-quality care you need to reclaim a healthy smile. Give our office a call to learn more and to schedule a personal consultation!