Find out how to get gum disease under control.

The problem with gum disease is that it often doesn’t cause symptoms until it’s become more advanced. This makes gum disease a problem, as it can cause a lot of damage in the interim. How do you fix that? By keeping up with routine checkups with your Westland, MI dentists Dr. Dennis Aylward and Dr. Brent Carey. Changes in your gums may be subtle at first, and the warning signs that you may have gingivitis (the earliest stage of gum disease) are bleeding, tender, red and swollen gums.

If you notice bleeding gums, especially when brushing or flossing, then you should come in for an evaluation. If gums are sore, tender to the touch, or red (healthy gums should always remain pink) these are also indicators that bacteria are present within the gums. To prevent the problem from getting worse it’s a good idea to visit with a dental professional who can recommend proper at-home care techniques and products, as well as simple treatments and solutions to reverse gingivitis.
 

Signs of Periodontitis
If gingivitis is ignored, or if you don’t notice symptoms, it will eventually progress into periodontitis (full-blown gum disease). At this point, you may start to notice other changes to your gums besides the symptoms above. These symptoms may include,

• Receding gums (as the gums pull away from the teeth your teeth may suddenly appear longer than usual)
• Persistent and unexplainable bad breath
• Gaps between the gums and teeth
• Changes in the way your teeth fit together
• Changes in the way your dentures fit
• Pus in the gums
• Loose teeth

If left untreated gum disease is the number one cause of tooth loss in adults. This is why it’s so important to take this oral disease seriously. Everyone should come in twice a year for routine cleanings, where we will check the health of your gums to look for pockets of infection that are telltale indicators of gum disease. By coming in twice a year, and maintaining good oral hygiene, you can greatly reduce your risk for gum disease.

Treating Gum Disease
One of the standard ways our Westland, MI, family dentists treat mild to moderate forms of gum disease is with a deep cleaning known as scaling and root planing, which involves removing tartar and plaque from along the gums, as well as below the gums and the roots of the teeth. We even smooth the roots down to make it a less hospitable environment for tartar to build up. Those with more advanced forms of gum disease may require laser or traditional surgery in order to remove diseased tissue, to treat the pockets of infection within the gums and to fix receding gums.

If you are noticing bleeding gums or other signs of gum disease, it’s important that you turn to our Westland, MI, dentists for immediate care. Call Carey & Aylward today at (734) 425-9130.