Gum Health & Your Smile

The health of your gums is vital to the health and stability of your smile. From supporting the teeth to serving as a barrier against infection for the body, the gums play a key role in your health and wellness. Keeping them free of infection is an important part of our preventive dental care protocol.

Do You Have Gum Disease?

The signs of gum disease are often difficult to spot and progress rather slowly over time. Regular dental care visits are a significant factor in avoiding the effects of gum disease. Dental exams, screenings, and teeth cleanings every 6 months remove plaque and provide the opportunity for our dental care team to spot the early signs of developing gum disease. Treatment for gingivitis is often conservative and may include an in-office deep cleaning called scaling and root planing. Once plaque has been removed, the gums can heal.

Knowing the common signs of early-stage gum disease or gingivitis can also be helpful and enable you to seek treatment before permanent damage occurs. Signs to look for can include:

• Gums that bleed when brushing, flossing, or eating crunchy food.
• Changes in the appearance of the gums, especially if they appear red or swollen.
• Persistent bad breath.

If gum disease progresses, you may notice that the gums are pulling away from the tooth roots and pockets are forming along the gum line. This is a more serious sign that infection is taking hold and causing permanent damage to the gum tissue. Treatment for advanced gum disease is aimed at halting progression and repairing as much damage as possible. In some cases, we may coordinate your dental care with a local oral surgeon who can offer gum grafting and reattachment procedures.

Maintaining the health of your gums is a key factor in the enjoyment of lifelong oral health and wellness. Healthy gums will also support a stronger immune system and make it easier to manage certain medical conditions. If you have a medical condition or take a daily prescribed medication, let us know at your next visit so we can be sure that there is no impact on your oral health.