Gum Disease Prevention

Patient education is an important component of preventing gum disease when combined with routine dental exams and gum disease screening. Early detection and prevention methods can help control the often silent gum disease or periodontitis. When caught in its earliest form, gingivitis improved at home care can arrest the progression and improve oral health without additional dental procedures.

What You Should Know About Gum Disease  

Gum disease, also called periodontal disease, often doesn’t have symptoms until at an advanced level. This is one reason why prevention is so crucial. Caused by an overgrowth of bacteria in the mouth, the precursor to gum disease is called gingivitis. If you have tender or bleeding gums, you might have gingivitis. When plaque bacteria accumulate on the teeth, it causes tartar. Tartar is a sticky film that attacks the gum tissue surrounding the teeth and can progress into gum disease.

Gum disease can cause:

     Tender, bleeding gums
     Pain and inflammation
     Bad breath
     Tooth decay
     Tooth loss

Preventive Dentistry Procedures

There’s a lot you can do at home to help prevent gum disease and tooth decay — such as regular daily brushing and flossing and following a healthy diet. However, it’s important to understand that brushing and flossing can only go so far. The only way to remove tartar is with a professional cleaning. Routine dental exams will remove any plaque and tartar buildup to help prevent bacteria from finding its way under the gum line. Routine exams will also provide an opportunity for cavity protection with fluoride treatments and sealants.

If signs of gum disease are spotted during your exam, we can take care of the problem before it damages a large area of gum tissue. Deep cleanings will involve scaling and planning to remove bacteria and infection from the gum pockets and along the tooth roots. This can not only save your smile but also save you money, because you won’t be subjected to more invasive periodontic procedures.

Gum Disease Education and Prevention in Rainier

If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms or have not been to a dentist in over six months, contact Northwest Family Dental to schedule an appointment. We are a family dental office in Rainier, and welcome new patients from the surrounding areas of Longview, Kelso, Kalama and Castle Rock.