Gum disease is the soreness and swelling of your gums. It may seem like no big deal, but it can lead to a multitude of problems, including tooth and bone loss.
Gum disease is caused by plaque – a sticky, colorless film than forms on your teeth. Bacteria love living in plaque. It is these bacteria that create toxins that inflame your gums.
You have to remove the plaque through brushing and flossing, and in case of hardened plaque (tartar) – through teeth cleaning done at our Fremont dental office. If you do not keep plaque under control, the bacterial population will grow, infecting your gums, teeth and jaw bone. The ultimate outcome can be tooth loss.
Gum disease has 3 stages:
Stage 1: Gingivitis – gums can be red, a little bit swollen, you may have some bleeding when brushing your teeth. It can be reversed by proper oral hygiene at home ( brushing and flossing), combined with regular teeth cleaning done by a dentist or dental hygienist.
Stage 2: Periodontitis – when gum disease reaches this stage, plaque spreads to tooth roots, causing an infection that could damage the bone and fibers that hold your teeth in place. Gums may start to pull away from teeth. This is the stage where you can still stop the major damage from occurring – but must have proper dental care and consistent home care to stop further damage.
Stage 3: Advanced Periodontitis – bone and fiber holding your teeth in place are seriously damaged. Teeth may loosen or shift, affecting your bite. At this stage, if treatment cannot save your teeth, they may need to be removed. It is best not to let things deteriorate to that point.
Possible signs of gum disease – let Dr. Nazareno know if you have any of these symptoms:
• Constant bad taste or bad breath.
•Swollen, sore, or bleeding gums.
• Gums that pull away from your teeth.
• Pus that appears between your gums and teeth.
• Changes in your bite.
Regular dental checkups followed by consistent home dental hygiene are you first line of defense against gum disease Call us at 510-744-1300 to schedule an appointment. We are conveniently located in Fremont (from I-880 take Mowry Ave. exit), close to Union City, Newark, Hayward, and Milpitas.