Everyone understands that it is important that you take care of your teeth in order to ensure that your dental health remains solid. What a lot of people take for granted, though, is the health of the gums and the other soft tissues of the mouth. Indeed, having healthy gums is a great way for you enhance your overall dental health and make sure that your teeth and your mouth remain healthy. We at our New York City cosmetic dentistry center stress to our patients how important it is to take care of teeth and gums.
If the health of the gums is not looked after, patients run a risk of developing gum disease. Gum disease can range in severity. In some cases, gum disease is minor and results in minor inflammation or swelling of the gums. In more severe cases, major dental problems can result as the gum disease can cause the wasting away of many internal dental structures.
New York City gum disease is usually caused by excess plaque build up and the bacteria that lives in the mouth. In milder forms of gum disease such as gingivitis, the basic symptoms are bright red or bright purple gums, swelling of the gums, and extreme sensitivity of the gums. If the gingivitis goes untreated or is allowed to progress, it can result in periodontitis. Periodontitis is an advanced form of gum disease that involves the loss of bone in the jaw.
There are many different ways that dentists can improve the health of your gums through dental care treatments. If caught in its early stages, your dentist can perform a comprehensive cleaning to ensure that the gum disease does not progress to a more advanced stage. In more advanced forms of gum disease such as periodontitis, various dental surgeries will need to be performed.
To learn more about your options or gum disease treatment and other major dental health matters, be sure to contact our Astoria cosmetic dentistry office to schedule a consultation.
