The health of your gums can have a significant impact on the overall health of your mouth and the integrity of your teeth. When poor oral hygiene practices allow food residue and plaque to harden into tartar, it can have a significant negative impact on your gums. In time, the bacterial presence at the gumline can promote periodontal disease.
This usually starts out as a gum inflammation condition, which is known as gingivitis. This can make gums swell and bleed when brushing and flossing. Some people with gingivitis also complain of chronic bad breath.
This early form of periodontal disease can often be remediated by a dental cleaning at Dr. Shnayder’s dental office in Omaha, NE. This will remove all traces of hardened tartar to allow your gum tissues to gradually heal. Going forward, you will need to make improvements in your oral hygiene routine to prevent gingivitis from recurring.
If you forgo gingivitis treatment, the gum inflammation can gradually escalate into the condition known as periodontitis. This severe infection in the gums can cause them to slowly recede from the base of your teeth. This could compromise the roots of your teeth and even cause a gradual loss of bone structure in your mouth.
Without treatment, the systemic inflammation caused by severe periodontitis can also have an impact on other medical conditions. Recent research has found a relationship between periodontal disease and diabetes, heart disease, and increased chance of stroke. While periodontal disease cannot cause these medical conditions, it can worsen symptoms and limit some treatment options.
If you live in the Omaha, NE, area and you have concerns about the health of your gums, you should call 402-317-5657 to schedule a dental exam at Village Pointe Oral Surgery.
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