Gum Disease
Gum disease needs treating before it worsens, or you could lose teeth. Dr. Thi Hoang, Dr. Theresa Hoang, and the team at Las Positas Family Dental in Livermore, California, can identify the signs of periodontal (gum) disease and provide treatment that gets your gums looking pink and healthy again. They also offer tips on maintaining healthy gums. Call Las Positas Family Dental for a consultation or book an appointment online today for periodontal disease prevention and treatment.
What is gum disease?
Gum (periodontal) disease affects your gums and the jawbone supporting your teeth. It develops when plaque (a sticky substance consisting of food debris and bacteria) forms on your teeth and isn’t removed properly.
Plaque naturally forms every day between brushings. If you brush regularly and use the correct techniques, you can effectively remove all or most plaque, thereby avoiding gum disease. However, plaque that remains on the teeth hardens into tartar, which you can’t brush off.
Plaque and tartar breed bacteria, causing gum irritation and damaging your teeth and jawbone. You might not notice signs of gum disease at first, but as it develops, your gums will become swollen and red and may bleed when you brush your teeth.
Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in the United States. It’s also a risk factor for developing certain chronic diseases.
What problems does gum disease cause?
In addition to tooth loss, gum disease increases the risk of severe, potentially life-threatening problems like:
Heart disease
Stroke
Diabetes
Bacterial pneumonia
High-risk pregnancy
These conditions have no obvious relationship to oral health, but extensive clinical research shows that there’s a link between them and gum disease.
What gum disease treatment might I need?
The gum disease treatment your Las Positas Family Dental dentist recommends depends on how advanced the problem has become.
In the early stages, a thorough professional cleaning resolves the issue. Your dentist removes all traces of plaque above and below the gumline. They also remove tartar with specialized scaling instruments. In addition, your dentist offers advice on improving your brushing technique to prevent further plaque buildup.
More advanced gum disease might benefit from laser treatment or, in severe cases, surgery and bone grafts. If you lose any teeth because of gum disease, Las Positas Family Dental offers various replacement teeth options, including bridges and crowns, dental implants, and partial or complete dentures.
What happens after treatment?
You can avoid gum disease by following good oral hygiene practices — twice-daily brushing, daily flossing, and avoiding sugary foods. Las Positas Family Dental also offers preventive dentistry, including regular checkups, routine cleaning, sealants, and fluoride treatments.
Call Las Positas Family Dental or complete the online booking form today to arrange a checkup or receive prompt gum disease treatment.
