We don’t always think about it, but our gums also need periodic check-ups at the dentist. Recently, a patient came to us and mentioned that for some time his gums (upper and lower) had been bleeding when he brushed or flossed his teeth. An examination of his gums showed that our patient was suffering from a rather advanced stage of gingivitis.
In this blog post, we’ll tell you more about gum disease and give you some helpful pointers for your next visit to the dentist. The professionals at the Centre Dentaire & d’Implantologie Boucherville take the warning signs of gum disease seriously.
What You Need to Know
First, it must be emphasized that no one is immune to gum disease. It can appear at any time in the life cycle of an individual. Both young people and adults can develop this disease.
But what exactly are we talking about? Simply, the first stage of a gum disease is called gingivitis. It is essentially an inflammation of the gums that is most often caused by plaque and tartar.
At this stage of the disease, the patient will not feel any significant pain. However, when examining or brushing the teeth, bleeding gums can be observed. Red and swollen gums can also be noticed, and sometimes bad breath can occur.
The good news is that gingivitis is easily treated and the dentists at Centre Dentaire & d’Implantologie Boucherville can help you in this regard. An annual visit for a complete examination on top of a good oral hygiene will help prevent this condition.
However, if the two elements mentioned above (annual visit + oral hygiene) are neglected, more severe gingivitis can set in and is likely to turn into periodontitis. According to the Canadian Dental Association, periodontics “is that branch and specialty of dentistry concerned with the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases and conditions of the supporting and surrounding tissues of the teeth or their substitutes and the maintenance of the health, function and aesthetics of these structures and tissues”. Periodontitis is thus the inflammation of tissues, in this case the gums.
At the most advanced stage of gum disease, it can lead to tooth loss! Periodontitis is in fact a deeper inflammation of the gums and of the supporting bone. It leads to a degradation of the bone tissue supporting the roots of our teeth.
Key Points to Remember
Gum disease, although it can cause significant damage, can often be prevented or treated when detected early.
Early detection of the disease and immediate care will often save you from more complex and costly procedures. It is even possible to treat the onset of the disease or the infection before you experience symptoms, sparing you the discomfort and pain that might otherwise be experienced. Don’t wait for significant pain and the onset of chewing difficulties associated with the more advanced disease. Contact the Centre Dentaire & d’Implantologie Boucherville now for a preventive examination.
A Professional Team to Care for Your GumsMany patients from Boucherville, Longueuil, Varennes, Verchères and more generally from the South Shore of Montreal, come to see us regularly for their preventive oral examination. During this examination, Dr. Marjorie Lachapelle, Dr. Patrice Dagenais and Dr. Tina Le make it their duty to get to the bottom of things and examine the gums of their patients in detail. They make recommendations, give advice, and provide regular follow-up. Trust this talented team and prevent unfortunate complications. The Centre Dentaire & d’Implantologie Boucherville, in preventive mode now… and always!