Gum Disease Questions Patients May Need Answered

Gum disease is a serious condition that can result in the loss of your teeth if it is not addressed relatively soon after developing. However, if you suspect that you might have this condition, you may need to have some questions addressed to ensure that you have the information that you need to prevent this disease from ruining your beautiful smile. After these questions are answered, you will have much more of the information you need to make smart choices for protecting and treating your mouth. 

How Can You Know If You Have Gum Disease?

It can be very difficult for a patient to know whether or not they are developing gum disease, but there are some warning signs that can alert you to the need to visit your dentist. One of the more common symptoms of this condition is bleeding gums after brushing and flossing. However, you may also notice that your gums are much redder than normal and they may also be swelling. 

In instances where the gum disease is particularly severe, the gums will start to recede from the teeth. When this condition has reached this point, you may be at a higher risk of tooth loss because there is not as much support for the teeth. 

How Will Flossing Help Protect You From Gum Disease?

Flossing is an activity that many people do not look forward to, but it can prove invaluable in fighting the progression of gum disease. This condition is largely caused by bacteria getting between the gums and teeth, where they can overrun the healthy tissue. When you floss, you are removing the bacteria from between your teeth before they can harm the gum tissue. 

Sadly, there are some people that find flossing extremely unpleasant due to tooth sensitivity. These individuals may be best served by investing in a water flosser. These are devices that clean the spaces between teeth with high pressure streams of water. To further enhance the effectiveness of this approach, it is possible to mix mouthwash or fluoride into the water flosser reservoir. 

Gum disease can ravage a patient's smile, and it is an unfortunate fact that many patients are poorly informed about this condition. If you have an understanding of the warning signs of gum disease as well as why flossing is important for fighting this condition, protecting your smile from this disease should be easier for you to do.  Contact a periodontist for more information.


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