To prevent gum disease in adults you should take some steps. This disease is known as an infection of the tissues that hold your teeth. It’s also caused by poor brushing and flossing habits that allow plaque and it’s a sticky film of bacteria that builds up on teeth and harden.
If left untreated, it can affect the bones surrounding the gums, making it painful to chew. In the worst cases, teeth may be lost or needed to be removed.
how to prevent gum disease in adults
Before we know how to prevent gum disease in adults, we will discuss the causes of this disease.
Dental plaque may be the reason if it is not removed every day it can harden and form tartar, and tartar build-up can lead to gum disease. Only a professional cleaning by a dentist hygienist can remove tartar.
There are several risk factors for gum disease, but smoking is the most significant and the main reason. Smoking also can make treatment for gum disease less successful.
the side effects of gum disease
Periodontal disease side effects may include:
- Reddish or purplish gums.
- Bleeding.
- Soreness.
- Bad breath.
- Unpleasant taste.
- Pain when chewing.
- Gum recession.
- Loose teeth.
Periodontal disease stages
Healthy gums are firm to the touch. They don’t cause bleeding or swelling. But periodontal disease can cause discoloured, swollen, bleeding gums. If it is left untreated, periodontal disease can cause destruction of your underlying jawbone.
The breakdown that happens to tissues around your teeth happens gradually. In fact, most people don’t experience pain with gum disease especially during the fisrt stages. it’s important to know the warning signs.
There are four stages of periodontal disease:
Gingivitis
This is the earliest stage of this disease. It starts with bleeding when you brush or floss. At this stage, no bone will be lost.
Mild periodontitis
The bacteria have seeped beneath your gums and your mouth, affecting the supporting bone. Your gums may pull it away from your teeth, creating pockets around the teeth. Plaque and bacteria like to hide in these pockets, where your toothbrush and floss can’t reach.
Moderate periodontitis.
If left untreated, bacteria will begin to erode the ligaments, soft tissues and bone that hold your teeth. You may notice bad breath and may cause infection around your gum line. Some people develop pain at this level.
Advanced periodontitis.
As periodontal disease worsens, bone loss continues. This can cause your teeth to lose and eventually fall out.
the complications of periodontal disease
To prevent gum disease in adults you should get treatment and when you get, gum disease continues to be less worse, wreaking havoc on your oral health. It leads to a vicious cycle of infections that can end in tooth loss.
Research has also proven that periodontal disease has a direct impact on your overall health and there’s a link between gum disease and other health issues like heart disease, stroke and diabetes.
Diagnosis and Tests
A dentist can tell you if you have a gum disease during the routine examination he will make for you. They’ll look for plaque buildup on your teeth and ask you about your side effects that happen to you. They may refer you to a gum specialist for further evaluation and treatment.
A dentist will measure the pockets around your teeth using an instrument called a periodontal probe. This tells them how much bone you’ve lost around your teeth and gum. The deeper the more severe the gum disease you have.
Management and Treatment
Gum disease isn’t curable, but it’s manageable with appropriate treatment if you have the right routine to prevent gum disease in adults. You can’t cure it because once you lose structural support around your teeth, you don’t usually get all of it back. gum treatment can reduce infection and rebuild your bone to some degree. Another factor also is genetics. There are a lot of different types of oral bacteria. Some people are more prone to having the kind that causes periodontal disease.
One stage of periodontal disease is totally reversible gingivitis. If you detect gingivitis early, you can reverse it with regular dental cleaning and diligent oral hygiene.
How is periodontal disease treated?
There are many gum treatments available. The one that is suitable for you depends on your condition and other factors, including:
- Your health.
- Whether you smoke.
- What treatments you’ve had in the past.
Dental cleaning and improved oral hygiene
People who have very early periodontal disease may be able to reverse the condition with the right routine with the right dental cleaning and improved oral hygiene. Because there’s no bone loss yet, this conservative approach gets rid of harmful oral bacteria before the disease has a chance to progress.
Oral hygiene like brushing, flossing daily and visiting your dentist for regular exams and cleanings.
Scaling and root planing
Scaling planing is similar to routine dental cleaning. But it cleans deeper in your gums, removing plaque and bacteria where your toothbrush and floss can’t reach. Periodontists recommend this treatment for people with mild periodontal disease
Pocket reduction surgery
People with moderate gum disease may need pocket reduction surgery. The goal is to remove plaque and tartar that are so deep under the gums that your hygienist can’t reach it. During this procedure, a periodontist makes an incision in your gums and creates a flap. This allows them to move your gums back from your teeth roots.
Next, they’ll clean the plaqueand bacteria from your teeth roots and smooth out any rough areas. Once it’s complete, they will reposition your gums and close the incision with stitches.
Read more: The effect of soft drinks on teeth
Bone grafting
Your dentist may use a dental bone graft to replace the bone that you’ve lost to periodontal disease. Once they clean the infection will get out of your gum, they’ll place bone grafting material into the areas where the bone has eroded. This material acts as scaffolding or a space-holder, giving your body time to regenerate its own bone over time.
Gum grafting
If you’ve lost gum tissue to periodontal disease, your dentist may recommend for you gum graft surgery, also called tissue grafting. This procedure covers exposed teeth roots and adds thickness to your gum line to prevent gum disease in adults.
Can I prevent periodontal disease
Yes, but not in all cases, you can prevent periodontal disease with consistent oral hygiene. Some people are more prone to gum disease due to their genetics or other health conditions. In these instances, you may need more frequent cleanings with your dental hygienist To prevent gum disease in adults. You can also use the supplements that will make you prevent this disease Dentitox Pro, DentiVive and PowerBite
How can I lower the risk for gum disease
To prevent gum disease in adults and the risk for this disease:
- Brush your teeth every day.
- Floss between your teeth daily.
- Use an antibacterial mouthwash.
- Avoid smoking and other tobacco use.
- Visit your dentist for cleanings and exams.
Read more: Dental health tips
In the end, we have discussed in this article how to prevent gum disease in adults and what are the side effects that may happen to you and how to cure this disease.