What Is Periodontal Disease? Chances are, you have probably heard the term, "periodontal disease," but may still wondering what exactly this condition is. Periodontal disease, or gum disease, is a chronic oral health condition that occurs as the result of bacteria accumulating in between your gums and teeth. When this happens, your gums can become infected.Fortunately, our professionals at Willamette Valley Periodontics are skilled in both the treatment and prevention of gum disease. As with all dental conditions, prevention is the primary goal because it protects you from the harmful effects of this condition. Preventing gum disease is as easy as practicing good oral hygiene habits like brushing and flossing. You also need to receive regular oral exams and professional cleanings from our team. During your preventative exams, our team will brush and floss your teeth. We will also remove any built-up plaque between your teeth and gums to help prevent infections. Plaque occurs when the naturally occurring bacterium in your mouth combines with food debris. While plaque is easy to remove with brushing, it can harden into a substance called tartar. Once this happens, you are at a higher risk of developing gum disease because tartar can inflame your gums. Tartar cannot be removed with regular brushing and flossing and will require removal by our professionals through specialized tools. How Is It Diagnosed?Gum disease has several symptoms that should be a warning sign that something is not quite right with your gums. This will include things like frequent bleeding and sensitivity when caring for your teeth. While it is true that some people have sensitive gums and may experience the occasional mild bleeding when brushing and flossing, frequent bleeding or a sudden increase in bleeding is abnormal. Despite having many easy to detect symptoms, gum disease still requires a professional diagnosis. This is because some of the symptoms can be caused by other conditions, not just gum disease. When you come in for your exam, our team will check for gum disease by measuring the naturally occurring pockets between your teeth and gums. A depth of 1 to 3mm is normal while pockets deeper than this are a strong indicator of gum disease. Is Periodontal Disease Curable?Prior to the severity of the disease, gum disease is not only treatable but may be curable as well. Treating gum disease requires that you work with our professionals and make some changes to your home oral hygiene habits. When our team is treating gum disease, they will remove the sources of the inflammation, plaque, and tartar. However, it is a must that you brush, and floss as directed to keep plaque from building back up between visits. Once your gum disease is gone, maintaining good oral health will require cleanings and exams every six months to help prevent it from returning. Since gum disease is a bacterial infection, it can always come back if you fall back into poor oral hygiene habits. Whether you have already been diagnosed with gum disease or are looking to get ahead of the curve, our team at Willamette Valley Periodontics can help. Scheduling an appointment is as easy as calling our office at (971) 261-1926. |
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