Keeping Your Gums Healthy

Keeping Your Gums Healthy

Oral health is not always about clear and straight smiles, but also about gum health. Keeping your gums healthy and functioning is also an important aspect of maintaining good oral health. Although you don't suffer from cavities or decay, it needn't conclude the same about your gum health.

Almost 50-70% of the Americans suffer from diseases that affect the health of their gums and most of them don't realize that. Hence, it advised to routinely visit your dentist at least once in six months to have your teeth and gums examined for signs of abnormalities.

What is gum disease?

Gum disease is a serious condition that compromises the health of the gums. The initial stage of the gum disease is when bacteria begin to build along the gum line. Such bacteria leads to the formation of plaque that can cause infection to the gum and bone. This can, in turn, lead to gum disease and tooth decay. Gingivitis could cause your gums to swell and bleed. 

How do we diagnose gum disease?

Gum disease may be diagnosed in the following way:

  • Reviewing the patient's medical and dental history.
  • Examining the patient's gums, mouth, and tongue for signs of infection
  • Checking for gum pockets between the gums and teeth
  • Detecting signs of bone deterioration by taking necessary dental X-rays

What is the process involved in treating gum disease?

Gum disease may be treated by adopting routine cleanings and care. Seeking professional dental care is the key to starting treatment.

  • Professional dental cleaning: Dental cleaning involves removing signs of plaque, tartar, and other bacteria. Deep cleaning involves scaling and root planing. Scaling is a process that gets rid of tartar and bacteria whereas root planing can remove signs of inflammation, smooth out root surfaces, and promote healing.
  • Restorations: Sometimes poorly fitting crowns, bridges, and implants may irritate gums making it difficult to remove plaque while brushing and flossing. If this happens, the dentist would recommend fixing existing restorations.

How can you prevent the chances of gaining gum disease once it has been healed?

Although it is always recommended that the patient visits the dentist at least once every six months, patients can also carry out simple oral health care routines at home such as:

  • Brushing the teeth twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush
  • Ensuring to floss sides of the teeth at least once a day with a high-quality dental floss
  • Avoiding tobacco
  • Seeking professional dental help by scheduling appointments with the dentist

By ensuring timely care and routine cleaning, we can make sure to keep your gums healthy and functioning. Request an appointment with us today to find out more about gum disease and ways to prevent it.


Location

2594 Shay Court, Fortuna, CA 95540

Phone: (707) 725-5025

Email: fortunadentistry@gmail.com

  • MON: 8:00 am - 12:00 pm
  • TUE - THU: 7:00 am - 4:30 pm
  • FRI: 8:00 am - 12:00 pm
  • SAT - SUN: Closed
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4602 Valley West Blvd., Arcata, CA 95521

Phone: (707) 822-4689

Email: arcatadentistry@gmail.com

  • MON: 8:00 am - 12:00 pm
  • TUE - THU: 7:00 am - 4:30 pm
  • FRI: 8:00 am - 12:00 pm
  • SAT - SUN: Closed
Contact Us