One of the most dangerous things that can happen to your teeth does not actually happen to the teeth – directly. It’s gum disease, a condition in which the gums can begin to recede from the surface of your teeth.
What makes gum disease so dangerous, and what can we do to help you if you develop it?
When you eat, food particles may stick to your teeth and begin attracting bacteria. If the food is not scraped away in time, the food particles and bacteria may begin to harden, creating plaque. Plaque that remains too long can cause gingivitis, the precursor to gum disease.
You know you have gingivitis if your gums bleed frequently when you brush and floss. You may also notice that your gums are changing colors. If this lasts too long, you may begin to develop gum disease.
Once gums begin to pull away from teeth, the teeth can loosen – and left untreated, may eventually even fall out. If you are experiencing sore, swollen or bleeding gums most of the time, this is a major warning sign that your gums are in trouble. Gum disease is also sometimes called periodontitis, a word that translates roughly in English to “around the teeth – disease.”
We have other ways to detect gum disease besides visual cues. We can use a device to measure the gaps between your gums and your teeth in millimeters. The lower the millimeter reading, the better – between 1 and 3 millimeters is optimal. If your readings go above 5 millimeters, however, then you may be in trouble; readings up to 8 or 9 millimeters mean you are likely about to lose those teeth without advanced treatments.
If you are still in the early stages of gum disease, we may be able to prescribe mouthwashes or apply medicine directly to the inflamed gums. These treatments attempt to fight off the bacteria in the plaque, allowing the gums to slowly heal.
If you are in the advanced stages of gum disease, then we may need to discuss with you other options. They may include surgery at the site of inflammation; getting a root canal for that tooth or teeth; or even implants, in which the entire tooth and its root are replaced. Implants are usually used for the most serious cases of gum disease, but is a viable option no matter what stage of periodontitis you are experiencing.
Come to our convenient beautiful South Elgin location to set up an appointment, or set one up ahead of time online.
