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Posts for tag: periodontal disease
Periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults, which is why you need to visit your Gillette, WY, dentist, Dr. Daniel 
Morrison.
Periodontal Disease:
About 50 percent of adults over the age of 30 have chronic periodontitis in the United States, according to the American Dental Association.
Periodontal disease, also gum disease, is when dental plaque, a sticky substance that contains bacteria after someone consumes a sugar-containing meal, builds up on teeth. When people don't properly brush, plaque builds up and becomes hard tartar.
When tartar accumulates on teeth and gums. You'll notice swelling and bleeding gums.
Here are some more symptoms to keep a lookout for: bad breath, bad taste that persists, gums pulling away from teeth, loose permanent teeth, red gums that easily bleed easily, and/or gums are swollen.
Reasons for Gum Disease:
Besides plaque, which is a result of poor dental hygiene, there are other factors that contribute to the increased risk of periodontal disease:
- Crooked teeth that can't be cleaned properly
- Pregnancy
- Diabetes
- Smoking and chewing tobacco
- Medications
- Genetics
Prevention:
- You should have an oral and dental examination at your Gillette, WY, family dentist's office every six months.
- Maintaining a healthy oral regimen.
- Make sure you brush your teeth twice a day; brush your teeth after you eat breakfast and before you go to bed with a soft-bristled toothbrush.
- Also, floss daily before going to bed to remove food debris and reduce the buildup of plaque.
- Drink plenty of water to remove food debris.
- Avoid eating sugary foods, like sodas and candy.
- Opt for healthier foods, like apples and carrots.
If you want to schedule an appointment with Dr. Daniel Morrison in Gillette, WY because you suspect you may be suffering from gum disease, call (307) 682-3353.
It takes only a short time neglecting your oral hygiene before you begin to notice some unpleasant things with your gums: swelling, redness or even bleeding. These are all signs of gingivitis, a periodontal (gum) disease that arises from bacterial plaque, a thin biofilm that builds up on tooth surfaces when a person doesn't brush or floss.
Fortunately, early stages of gingivitis can be treated effectively with comprehensive plaque removal during one or more office visits. If, however, it's not dealt with early, it can develop into something much more serious: acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (ANUG). This form does more than leave you with unattractive teeth and gums and terrible breath — it could eventually cause you to lose your teeth.
ANUG is also known as trench mouth, a common ailment among front line World War I soldiers without access to proper dental care and hygiene. It's most prevalent today among individuals who are under a great deal of stress, not sleeping or eating well and haven't cleaned or properly cared for their teeth for an extended period of time. Tobacco smokers also seem more susceptible than non-smokers to the disease, perhaps because smoke dries the mouth and changes the bacterial environment.
Unlike common gingivitis, ANUG can be quite painful. In effect, the gum tissues begin to die (necrotize), especially the triangular peaks between teeth known as papillae. Besides the other symptoms of gingivitis, the tissues may become yellowish.
ANUG can be treated effectively. The first step is to relieve the symptoms of pain and inflammation through medication. The focus then shifts to treating the underlying cause, bacterial plaque. Besides plaque removal common in any treatment for gum disease, we may also need to initiate antibiotic therapy. Metronidazole is a common antibiotic that's been demonstrated effective against the specific bacterial strain associated with ANUG. We might also combine this with an antibacterial mouth rinse containing chlorhexidine.
The final step belongs to you: to keep ANUG or any other gum disease from reoccurring, it's important for you to adopt a daily regimen of brushing and flossing, along with regular dental visits for thorough teeth cleaning and checkups. Taking this proactive approach will help ensure you won't suffer from this painful and unattractive form of gingivitis again.
If you would like more information on acute gingivitis, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Painful Gums in Teens & Adults.”