Assess Your Gum Health By Checking for These Periodontal Disease Signs
Periodontics in Burlington Cares About Your Gums

Have you been brushing and flossing like you should?

The fact is, not enough people are flossing every day as part of their dental care routine. With recent news suggesting that flossing isn’t effective, many might assume that they can skip out on this important step. The fact is, flossing works to remove food particles and bacteria from between the teeth (where the brush can’t reach), and without regularly cleaning these areas, the gums take a hit and will typically develop gum disease.

Gum disease stage one: Gingivitis

Gum disease begins as gingivitis, the initial and mild stage that is thankfully reversible with daily brushing and flossing. However, when gingivitis is left untreated, the problem can progress to the final and severe stage of gum disease: periodontitis. Periodontitis puts the teeth at major risk for loss, as the gums pull back due to the disease and no longer support the teeth as they should. Floss, people!

Gum disease stage two: Periodontitis

Periodontitis, the final and advanced stage of gingivitis, requires professional intervention referred to as periodontal therapy in order to restore the gums back to a healthy state.

Without the aid of a dental hygienist or periodontist in Burlington via a scaling and root planing procedure (a deep cleaning process used to remove plaque and tartar from the gum pockets), and/or a surgical procedure like gum grafting to restore gum tissue that has been lost, a patient with periodontitis will eventually lose their teeth due to this aggressive disease.

Signs of periodontitis include swollen and tender gums, gums that are a bright red or purple hue, significant recession and loose teeth.

More on gum recession

Gum recession typically progresses slowly and gradually. If some of your teeth appear longer than the surrounding teeth, or if there is a visibly noticeable difference in the amount of tooth exposed, let our Burlington dentist know. It is also common to experience heightened tooth sensitivity at the receded gum line, as the sensitive root is exposed in these areas.

Preventive care

It’s vital that you floss every day in conjunction with your brushing routine in order to effectively prevent gum disease and keep your gums in top shape. If you happen to have plaque and tartar buildup below your gum line that is affecting the health of your gums, a professional cleaning treatment with the hygienist is necessary.

Is periodontal therapy painful?

A caring dental professional will ensure that a patient’s gum treatment (to prevent or manage gum disease) is a comfortable experience. Our Burlington sedation dentist, Dr. Samuel Toong will suggest sedation options that will be able to help a person feel relaxed as their gums receive care.

Some patients who are particularly fearful of their treatment benefit from general anesthesia, and love being completely unconscious during their procedure! Dr. Sam is specially trained to provide a calming and comfortable experience using sleep dentistry… so if you’re afraid of finally getting the dental care you need, talk to him today. He truly understands how you feel and wants you to have a positive experience while you get your oral health back on track. It’s what we do at Asleep for Dentistry!

In the meantime, show those gums the love and care they deserve if you haven’t been making it a priority.