Article

What are the warning signs of periodontal diseases?

Written by Stella Brian

Topic: Health EducationPublished November 15, 2014
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The gum disease periodontal is an extremely serious situation you want to avoid. There are different stages of gum disease that eventually end in periodontal. Understanding the difference between gingivitis (another gum disease) and periodontal is important, as is knowing the warning signs of this kind of disease. After all, it is extremely important for you to avoid such problems whenever possible and to do something about it, should you discover you are showing signs of potential gum disease. Depending upon how far along you are, it might be possible to correct the situation on your own. However, after visiting your dentist, they might instruct you that you do need to undergo specific procedures to correct the periodontal disease. Gingivitis and Periodontal Disease First off, gingivitis is an inflamed gum line. Having gingivitis does not mean you are eventually going to develop periodontal, although it does proceed it if proper steps are not taken. When gingivitis starts to develop, plaque begins to build up under the gums, which causes the gums to become inflamed and bleed rather easily when brushing. When left untreated, it can develop into periodontitis. With periodontitis, the layer of your gum and bone actually pull away from the teeth, forming pockets. This leaves you susceptible to the collection of plaque and other debris, which in turn infects the gums and can cause cavities around the roots of the teeth as well. Warning Signs of Periodontal Disease The biggest tell and warning sign related to periodontal disease and other, initial gum diseases, is when your gums start to bleed after brushing your teeth. Now, bleeding gums does not instantly mean you are starting to develop a gum disease. You might just be brushing too hard. Switch to a soft bristle brush and continue on from here. If your gums continue to bleed after a few days, chances are you have some sort of gum disease developing and you need to see your dentist right away. Red, tender and swollen gums is a sign you might have periodontal disease, as is persistent bad breath or having a continual bad taste in your mouth. You also want to check and inspect your gum line. If your gums look to be reducing around the teeth, it is due to the formation of pockets around the teeth, which is because of either periodontal or gingivitis disease. In order to avoid significant problems and to correct the formation of gum disease, you need to visit your dentist regularly. Should you suspect you have gum disease though, you need to make sure you do brush twice a day, switch to a soft bristle tooth brush, and you can purchase a toothpaste that is directed at improving the health of the gums. Is Periodontal Treatment Very Costly? If you have asked "is periodontal treatment very costly?", it really depends on the severity of the situation. No two cases are the same, as it might just be rather straight forward. You may even end up saving money in the long run. First off, you need to stop smoking, if you currently smoke. Using tobacco, either through a cigarette or through chew, can drastically increase your chances of developing periodontal disease. You need to stop as soon as possible in order to improve your gum health. If you are extremely stressed or going through a hormonal imbalance, it can cause serious problems as well. Take a bit of time at home and just avoid work and everything else in order to relax. This is often easier said than done, but it can help. If you are pregnant, which is causing the hormonal imbalance, there isn't much you can do until you have gone through the pregnancy, although always talk to your doctor about the situation. Also, maintain a balanced diet as well. Should the dentist determine you need to have the gums corrected due to the excessive size of the pockets, it can mean surgery. Here, the cost is going to vary, depending on if the dentist only needs to correct one or two pockets through surgery, or if there is a dozen they need to do. Due to this, and based on insurance coverage and your particular dentist, the cost can range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, but again, there are many different variables at play.

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About the Author

Stella Brian practices health by visiting dentists of different cities. In her free time she writes health articles and loves to watch movies.