Do You Suffer from This Common Dental Disease?
At James Peterson Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, we continually stress the importance of maintaining a proper oral hygiene routine. We see most patients only a few times during the year, and that means they need to be diligent about properly cleaning and caring for their teeth on their own. Many patients assume that preventing tooth decay is the reason we are so passionate about cleaning teeth properly. Aside from decay, there are other harmful conditions you can develop that can seriously affect your oral health now and in the future. Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is one of these issues.
What is Gum Disease?
Gum disease is a common condition that affects more than half of American adults at some point in their life. It consists of a serious gum infection and inflammation caused by bacterial growth along the gumline and around the base of the tooth. We encourage patients to maintain their routine appointments in our office because part of the examination involves checking for signs of gum disease. When detected in the early stages, we may recommend a treatment by the name of scaling and root planing. If the disease progresses too far with no dental intervention, some patients experience tooth loss due to deterioration of the jawbone.
Signs of Gum Disease
Gum disease often remains undetected by patients who do not regularly visit our office because there are not many obvious warning signs. Between routine appointments in our office, it is important to stay on top of your oral health and keep track of any changes you notice. Symptoms of periodontal disease include:
- Swollen or irritated gums
- Gums that are very red
- Bleeding gums when you brush your teeth
- Unexplained bad breath
- Gums that are receding or pulling away from the teeth
- Loose or sensitive teeth
If you are in Coppell, TX or the surrounding area and it has been longer than six months since your last hygiene examination, we recommend calling our office to schedule an appointment. If you are concerned you may have gum disease or need to schedule a recommended treatment, our team would be more than happy to help. We look forward to seeing you soon!