There tends to be a lot of confusion as it relates to both gingivitis and gum disease. You may be wondering whether or not they are the same. If so, can they be treated the same way? No need to fret, our professional dental office in Sacramento is here to get all of your questions answered and more.
Info About Gum Disease
Gum disease is typically an all-encompassing term that is meant to talk about gums that are infected. This infection is the direct result of plaque buildup underneath the gumline. However, there are (3) stages of gum disease. The (3) stages include gingivitis, periodontitis, and advanced periodontitis.
Gingivitis
This is the very first stage of gum disease. It’s the mildest. When you catch it early, there is a very high treatment success rate. Also, you can reverse the damage.
Periodontitis
This is stage number 2 of gum disease. This is the stage that occurs when gingivitis isn’t caught early enough. Gingivitis that is left untreated can progress into periodontitis. This is an increasingly severe stage.
In this stage, not only does it negatively affect your gums, but it can also negatively affect everything else including your bones and the tissue holding them in place. While you cannot reverse the damage that’s already been done, you can treat periodontitis from getting worse.
Advanced Periodontitis
This is the most severe stage of gum disease. This stage occurs when the plaque has been left untreated to do irreparable damage to the tissues and the bones in the mouth. In this stage, your teeth may start to get loose. They could also shift drastically, and in severe cases – you may lose them.
Do You Have Gum Disease?
Unfortunately, the signs and symptoms of gum disease aren’t always present. You could have gum disease and not even know it. Here are some of the symptoms of gum disease.
- You have bad breath
- You have loose teeth
- You spit blood after flossing and brushing
- Your gums are receding
- You constantly have inflamed gums
How Gum Disease Can Impact Your Body
The fact is, gum disease can lead to tooth loss when it’s not treated early enough and properly. However, it’s also got other things that can negatively impact your health. It’s been linked to several diseases and conditions including:
- Cancer
- Heart Disease
- Heart Attacks
- Stroke
- Osteoporosis
- Lung Disease
As you can see, gum disease can open you up to a lot of health risks. Luckily, there’s plenty that you can do to protect yourself from it. One of the best things you can do is avoid smoking. Another thing you can do is maintain optimal oral hygiene. Try to maintain regular hygiene and checkups every 6 months with your preferred Sacramento dentist.
Here at Sacramento River Dental Group, we are always welcoming brand-new patients and we cannot wait to help you improve your oral health today. You can reach our friendly associates to schedule your checkup today.
