Did you know that taking care of your gums is as important as taking care of your teeth?
Also known as periodontal disease, gum disease is the inflammation of the gums. It occurs when you don’t practice good oral hygiene. If you don’t brush and floss your teeth regularly, plaque will form on your teeth and gums. Plaque is a sticky, colourless film of bacteria on the teeth that when left uncleaned, will turn into tartar that damages your gums and teeth.
Poor gum care can cause serious dental problems in the future.
When you have healthy gums, they are firm, fit tightly against your teeth and are pale pink.
If you are noticing that your gums are swollen, red and bleed easily, you may have gum disease. These are the most common signs, and if you have these symptoms, we recommend that you see your dentist immediately.
What Are The Different Gum Disease Stages?
There are three different stages of gum disease. If ignored in early stages, gum disease can progress to more serious health concerns.
Stage 1. Mild Gum Disease: Gingivitis
Gingivitis is the early stage of gum disease. At this point, the gum disease is still reversible with good oral hygiene. Aside from swollen, red gums that bleed easily, gingivitis may also cause bad breath and receding gums.
Stage 2. Severe Gum Disease: Periodontitis
If left untreated, gingivitis can turn into periodontitis.
Periodontitis causes gum pockets that allow more bacteria to enter your gums. This disease can lead to infection and destroy the bone that supports your teeth.
Stage 3. Extremely Severe Gum Disease: Aggressive Periodontitis
In aggressive periodontitis, the gum pockets that form in your teeth at the early stages of periodontitis can cause the gum tissue to detach from your teeth. When this happens, your teeth may start falling out.
In addition to the possibility of losing your teeth, other health conditions may occur as the disease’s byproducts enter the bloodstream.
Gum Disease Dental Care In Winnipeg
You may not even know you have gum disease, especially in the early stages. But preventing gum disease is very easy. All you need to do is follow your dentist’s most basic dental advice: Floss daily before you go to sleep, brush your teeth twice a day and visit your dentist regularly.
At Kildonan Crossing Dental Centre, we do routine examinations and x-rays to check for gum disease symptoms and other oral problems. If a patient is diagnosed with gum disease, we provide them with treatment options and give them professional advice on improving their dental health at home.
Haven’t been to the dentist lately? Book an appointment today!
We are conveniently located at the corner of Lagimodiere and Regent Avenue. And we’re easily accessible by families from all over Winnipeg, including Transcona, East Kildonan, North Kildonan, East St. Paul, St. Boniface, Southdale, Island Lakes and Sage Creek.