At Cosmetic Dentistry Associates, our team of talented dental professionals offers an extensive menu of dental services, including general dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, and restorative dentistry solutions. There is rarely a dental concern that we cannot treat in our Rockland County, NY dentist office.
One of the most common dental concerns that we treat our patients for is gum disease. While gum disease is a common dental concern, many patients do not know what it is, why it occurs, and how it is treated. We answer frequently asked questions about gum disease below:
When brushing or flossing your teeth, have you ever noticed a small amount of blood in the sink afterward? If so, you’ve likely experienced gingivitis. Also known as bleeding gums, gingivitis occurs when there is an excess of buildup around the soft tissues of your smile.
The food residue irritates your gum tissue, causing it to become inflamed. Gingivitis can normally be reversed by making improvements to your at-home oral hygiene routine or by scheduling a dental cleaning at your Rockland County, NY dentist’s office.
Gum disease occurs when the food residue surrounding your soft tissues hardens into plaque or tartar. Plaque and tartar are more difficult to remove from your smile on your own, meaning you will need a thorough dental cleaning performed by our experienced dental professionals to fully restore your smile. If plaque and tartar remain on your dental structures long enough, the bacteria inside of them will begin to eat away at your healthy soft tissues, causing more invasive symptoms.
Signs and symptoms of advanced gum disease include tender gums, bright red gums, loose teeth, bad breath, and even tooth loss. Patients should call their dentist right away if they think they are experiencing the signs and symptoms of advanced gum disease.
To prevent gum disease, you should practice a strict at-home oral hygiene routine including brushing and flossing at least twice a day. Additionally, patients should rinse their mouths out with water or chew sugar-free gum after midday meals to reduce the amount of food residue sitting on their dental structures.
Most importantly, patients should attend their biannual dental cleanings to prevent gum disease. During these appointments, our trained hygienists will remove any plaque or tartar buildup that is threatening your dental health, stopping gum disease progression in its tracks.
For patients experiencing the advanced stages of gum disease, our Rockland County, NY dentist office provides periodontal treatment options. A procedure known as scaling and root planing can be performed to remove any bacteria below or above your gum line. Laser dentistry solutions may also be incorporated into your treatment plan to safely remove any infected tissue.
For severe cases of gum disease, oral surgery may be needed to fully restore your smile. The best way to find out which treatment option is right for you is to schedule an appointment with Cosmetic Dentistry Associates. Our Rockland County, NY dentist office is currently welcoming new patients. We look forward to treating you soon.
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