What is Gum Disease?
Gum disease is a medical issue that affects the teeth and gum tissue. If left untreated, gum disease can become a serious concern and lead to tooth loss, infection, bone loss, and even heart issues.
There are four stages of gum disease. These include gingivitis, periodontitis, moderate periodontitis, and advanced periodontitis. This progressive illness is caused by a build-up of bacteria, which leads to plaque and tartar that damages teeth and gum tissue. When oral hygiene suffers for any reason, such as skipped dental visits or forgetting to floss at home, bacteria and plaque have the chance to spread.
The first stage of gum disease is gingivitis, which includes inflammation of the gums, and sometimes bleeding during brushing or flossing. If untreated, it can lead to periodontitis and other advancing stages of gum disease.
Steps You Can Take
Finding reliable and affordable dentists in Chicago can be difficult, but if you are concerned you may be suffering from gum disease, it’s best to find a dentist you can trust to treat the issue as quickly as possible. This is the first step to tackling gum disease, and one that Family Dental Care is happy to help with.
If your dentist confirms you are showing signs of gingivitis, there are steps you can take to improve your oral health. These include the following:
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Improve your at-home dental habits. Make sure to floss at least once a day, brush twice daily, use mouthwash, and cut down on sugary and starchy foods.
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Schedule a professional teeth cleaning.
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Drink more water. Bacteria thrive in a dry environment, so it’s important to stay hydrated.
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Avoid smoking.
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Up your vitamin intake. Feeding your immune system can prevent gum disease from spreading.
Dental Services in Lakeview
It can be nerve wracking to find out you have gum disease, or to consider the possibility that you have it if you are experiencing symptoms.
If you are concerned you may be suffering from early-stage gum disease, it’s important to get in touch with a reliable dentist as soon as possible.
Family Dental Care is a Lakeview dentist providing dental care to Chicago and Waukegan residents. We offer general dentistry, teeth cleanings, gum treatments, emergency services in Lakeview, and more. Contact us today to set up an appointment.
