Gum disease is one of the most recognizable chronic dental conditions. It’s even the star of a wide variety of marketing campaigns for dental hygiene products. Yet, despite its popularity, there are many things about gum disease that you might not realize, like what it could mean for your long-term oral health or how it can impact your systemic wellbeing. Today, we take a closer look at gum disease and how it could have more of an impact on your life than you may have originally realized.
Why You Should Be More Worried
If all you really know about gum disease is what you’ve seen on mouthwash commercials, then you might think red and inflamed gums are the worst of it. You might also think that buying mouthwash will cure it. Neither are true. Gum disease starts as a minor infection in your gums, known as gingivitis, and at first, it’s mild enough that you may have a chance to reverse it. However, before long, gum disease can destroy areas of your gums and jawbone, and even the best hygiene products won’t be able to save your smile.
What to Do if Gum Disease Forms
The best way to address gum disease is to prevent it, but once it does develop, the best thing you can do for your smile is to stop it from progressing. To do that, you’ll need a precise diagnosis from your dentist and a personalized treatment plan to address the disease. Depending on the severity of it, you may require specialized treatment from a periodontal expert. In more severe cases, you might also need a custom prosthesis to replace one or more teeth that you’ve lost to the disease.
Learn How to Stop Gum Disease Damage
If you fail to prevent gum disease, then you can still stop the damage by seeking professional treatment from your dentist as soon as possible. To learn more, schedule an appointment as soon as possible by calling Lathrop Dental Center in Katy, TX at 832-437-3849. We proudly welcome patients and families from Katy, Fulshear, Weston Lakes, Simonton, Richmond, Rosenberg, Brookshire, Wallis, Orchard, Cypress, Sealy, Columbus, and all surrounding communities.
