Our periodontics dentist in Chestermere will explain the three stages of this condition and how to prevent it.
What is Periodontal Disease?
Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, is the infection of the supporting tissues of your dentition. It all starts when you eat sugary foods and don’t brush your teeth. Food particles combined with bacteria and saliva form a sticky film, which is plaque.
When you don’t brush the plaque away, it hardens and turns into tartar or calculus. It is what most patients know as stones in their teeth. Tartar, if not removed, leads to pockets between dental pieces and the gums, where bacteria infect and damage severely.
What are the Stages of Periodontal Disease?
There are three stages:
1. Gingivitis – It is the mildest form. It occurs when you don’t brush the plaque away, and the gingiva inflames. This condition is reversible. You must brush your teeth daily (two times a day for two minutes), floss between dental pieces (since the toothbrush does not reach these areas), and reduce the consumption of starchy foods.
2. Periodontitis – Once the plaque turns into tartar and pockets form, you must visit a dentist near you that removes the plaque and tartar buildup. If you don’t, the infection will progress and cause significant damage.
3. Severe periodontitis – In this stage, the bone and gums recede to the point that teeth may shift (and even fall out!). At this point, looking for teeth cleaning near you is not enough. Your dentist must perform additional procedures, such as root planing and scaling, or bone and gum grafting for severe cases.
How to Prevent Periodontal Disease?
Periodontal disease is too common yet very preventable. By introducing the basics of oral care to your routine, you can keep it away.
1. Brush your teeth – You must do so twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Hard bristles damage your teeth and gums. Brush for two minutes to ensure you remove the dental plaque.
2. Floss daily – Many people forget the areas between teeth. In them, plaque can build up and harm your tissues. Make sure to floss every night between all dental pieces (front teeth included).
3. Avoid sugary foods – The sugar in them is the favorite for bacteria. Remember this every time you include sugars in your diet. Also, sugar is very harmful to your overall health and increases your risk of developing other conditions, like diabetes.
4. Visit your dentist – The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends a biannual visit. We suggest visiting a dental professional every six months to monitor your oral health. We offer our teeth cleaning in Chestermere if we detect early signs of gum disease during dental checkups. We will also apply fluoride (every six months, you should get fluoride applications to strengthen your dentition).
Either your dentist or a dental hygienist may perform the cleaning. It is a simple procedure, and it takes a single appointment.
For cases of deep pockets, they may perform the procedure we mentioned above – root planing and scaling, which consists of removing the tartar buildup from around and under the gum line with an instrument called a scaler and using others for soothing the roots of your teeth.
Contact Us Today
If it’s been a while since you had not undergone teeth cleaning, we invite you to schedule a free consultation visit with us today!