When it comes to periodontal disease, the sooner that you are able to start treating your infected gum tissue, the better your dental prognosis becomes. No one knows your smile better than you, which is why our O’Fallon gum disease dentists have put together this primer on symptoms of and treatments for gum disease.
Let’s start with commonly experienced symptoms of periodontal disease:
- Malodorous Breath: bad breath happens to everyone occasionally. However, if you are battling bad breath that is particularly stubborn and hard to treat, you may be dealing with gum disease. As oral bacteria infect the oral tissues, they emit unpleasant odors; in order to beat this type of bad breath you really need to address the underlying infection.
- Receding Gum Tissue: your gums cover your tooth roots and their sensitive nerves. Periodontal disease causes gum tissue to pull away from the teeth, forming periodontal pockets, which collect bacteria and food particles.
- Bleeding Gums: one sign that your gum tissue is unhealthy is that it bleeds easily. You’ll likely notice blood when you floss, and when you eat crunchy or abrasive foods. Your gum tissue may additionally appear swollen and feel sore.
The key to treating periodontal disease is to seek treatment for the infection as early as possible. Based on the extent of your oral infection you may be advised to:
- Come in for professional cleanings more often
- Add a mouth rinse into your at-home oral hygiene routine
- Rinse your mouth after every meal and snack—either with water or a specially formulated mouth wash
- Drink plenty of water during the day in order to prompt saliva production
- Clear away diseased tissue with laser periodontal treatment
- Complete gum graft treatment in order to rebuild missing tissue
No matter what your smile looks and feels like today, we are here to help you achieve a smile that you can be proud of for years to come. Give our office a call to speak to a member of our O’Fallon dental team. We look forward to talking to you!