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Gum Disease
in Mission Valley, CA

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Maintaining our oral health is important

It is not always an easy job. In fact, sometimes it can be an incredibly difficult one. This is especially true if you have been diagnosed with any chronic conditions that might affect your oral health and present any risks or challenges to maintaining the strength of your teeth. One of the most common issues that adults face when it comes to their oral health, for example, is gum disease. This issue can significantly impact your ability to maintain good oral health and hygiene, which is why it is important to visit your dentist regularly to keep an eye on any potential or current issues.

Gum Disease in Mission Valley, CA

What is gum disease?

Also known as periodontal disease, gum disease is a chronic condition that affects many adults in the United States. This disease affects your gums, but can quickly become a major issue for both the soft tissue surrounding your teeth as well as the bone that supports them. When periodontal disease reaches its worst stages, you can even lose teeth. This is clearly the last thing that we want to have happen, especially since keeping natural teeth in place is almost always the best option for your overall oral health as well as the strength of your teeth and gums.

How does gum disease develop?

There is a reason that maintaining good oral hygiene is so strongly stressed. Our mouths are not the cleanest places around. In fact, they tend to be full of bacteria that can quickly cause significant issues if not taken care of. This bacteria, for example, can quickly form tartar, which is a hardened form of plaque that is not easily removed. It cannot be removed by brushing or flossing, and must be removed by a dentist. Should you fail to visit your dentist promptly and have this tartar removed, it can cause issues with your gums.

What happens when gum disease develops?

There are a number of different levels of gum disease. Sometimes, this tartar can create an issue with your gums pulling away from your teeth and becoming inflamed and red. Other times, it might result in significant tissue loss that can expose the roots of your teeth. This can, if untreated, create some significant issues for your teeth. Increased sensitivity, for example, might result. Even more dire, however, are the risks that gum disease poses to your teeth should you fail to address the disease quickly. Bone loss, for example, could lead to loose teeth that must ultimately be extracted, leaving you with the need to find good replacement teeth options.

How is gum disease treated?

Gum disease can often be successfully treated, especially if it is caught early. Professional cleanings can help reduce the tartar on your teeth and improve the condition of your gums while simultaneously helping to prevent the spread of the disease. The only way to effectively treat the disease is by regularly visiting your dentist.

If you are worried about gum disease and would like more information, please call us today to schedule an evaluation.