As long as your teeth matter to you, then you should care about keeping your gums healthy as well.

Periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in the United States, but it doesn’t need to cost you your smile. Preventive care at our Stone Mountain, GA dental practice can help you maintain a healthy mouth. We also offer treatment to restore your gum healthy if needed.

This month is Gum Disease Awareness Month. Today’s post is about things you should know to get your mouth back to a healthy state if you do develop a gum infection.

To schedule an appointment with our team at Blankenship Family Dentistry, call 770-766-8995.

Learn To Recognize A Gum Infection

Should you get treated for gum disease? To help you decide, we want to make sure you know some of the common symptoms of periodontal infections.

The earliest signs are things you can see when you look in the mirror. When you have gingivitis, your gums can appear redder than usual and swollen. Often, they will bleed when you floss or brush your teeth. (This may be a clue that you are not flossing as often as you should or that you have not been flossing correctly).

If you catch this early, you may be able to reverse those effect by improving your daily oral care habits.
If your condition gets worse, you can develop periodontitis. Its symptoms are more serious and will call for professional treatment. Let us know if you see these signs:

  • Separation between your teeth and gums
  • Gums that bleed easily (not just when you brush or floss)
  • Pus between your teeth and gums
  • Persistent bad breath or bad taste in your mouth
  • Loose teeth

Now, some people will experience sore or tender gums, but many people never feel any pain as a result of a gum infection. That’s something to remember if you are trying to decide if you should visit our office.

Revive Your Oral Health

In many cases, non-surgical gum disease treatment is all you need to revive your healthy smile. It may go without saying, but early treatment is more effective, which is why we encourage you to call us as soon as you notice a problem with your gums.

Using a deep cleaning procedure, called scaling and root planing, we can remove plaque and tartar buildup on the root of your teeth. By doing this, were remove the source of irritation, so your mouth can heal.

For more serious cases, we’ll discuss additional treatment option. We want you to choose the right solution for you and your smile.

Make Your Gum Health A Priority

Protect your pearly whites by making your gums a priority, too. With regular brushing, flossing, and professional cleanings, you have a much lower risk of gum infections, much less gum disease. You can get your next cleaning and exam at Blankenship Family Dentistry in Stone Mountain. You can contact us online or call 770-766-8995.