Don’t Hesitate to Get Gum Disease Treatment of Bend
The normal routine is to wake up to the chiming of your alarm at around 5 am. You hit the snooze button a couple of times and finally, you roll out of the bed. Next, there’s the search for your glasses, your hands fumbling in the dark on your nightstand. You put them on and make your way to the sink to brush your teeth. Still half asleep, you become fully conscious when you notice the blood on your gum line and in the sink. You’re wondering what’s the cause of this and how to fix it. Your local dentist says that you may need gum disease treatment of Bend, and the best thing to do is schedule a visit. He also has more information to share about this condition as you read further.
What is Gum Disease?
Gum disease is a condition that exists in three phases, the severity of its symptoms increasing with each stage. They are:
- Gingivitis – This is the first phase of gum disease. Some of its symptoms are red, swollen gums that easily bleed. At this stage, there may be little to no pain.
- Periodontitis – The next progression is periodontitis, where the supporting bone and fibers that hold your teeth in place are irreversibly damaged. Your gums may also form a pocket below the gum line, trapping food and plaque, which contributes further to the degeneration.
- Advanced Periodontitis – This is the final stage of gum disease, where the fibers and bone supporting your teeth are destroyed, which can cause the roots to shift and eventually, fall out.
What Causes Gum Disease?
Gum disease is caused by the accumulation of bacteria and plaque on your teeth and gums, due to poor oral hygiene. The bacteria infiltrators leave acid trails that cause the decay of your your teeth and gums.
How to Treat It
You can treat the early stages of gum disease with proper oral hygiene, which includes brushing and flossing at least twice a day. However, if you’ve allowed plaque to build up over time, the only way to remove it is with a professional cleaning from your dentist.
For advanced cases of periodontitis, the following may be employed:
- Pocket Reduction – This procedure involves your dentist pulling back gum tissue and removing bacteria and the damaged portion of the bone.
- Gum Grafts – Gum grafts are used to remove healthy tissue from your palate and cover roots exposed due to gum recession.
- Regenerative Procedure – This is a surgical procedure where bacteria is eliminated from the effected bone area, and then natural or synthetic bone is inserted to encourage new growth.
As always, prevention is the order of the day. Contact your dentist to schedule your semi-annual visits so that you don’t have to seek the more invasive treatment options. A thorough cleaning and examination from your dentist in Bend will ensure that a minor problem doesn’t become major, and you can be confident in your oral health.
