Lisle Dentist Points Out the Warning Signs of Gum Disease

Gum disease often comes on silently and unnoticed. Maybe that’s the reasons studies estimate that upwards of 80 percent of American adults have some degree of gum disease. What is gum disease? It is a chronic bacterial infection of the gum tissue that supports your teeth. And if not treated and stopped, the infection can spread to the bone structure underlying your gums. Therefore, Lisle dentist Drs. Frank and Jeanelle Marchese want to publicize the warning signs of gum disease Lisle patients need to be aware of in order to avoid the harmful oral and general health consequences.

The Warning Signs of Gum Disease

In the early stage, which is called gingivitis, gum disease comes on subtly. However, the later stage—periodontitis—is much more pronounced. Gums that bleed easily when you eat, brush or floss and gums that are red, tender and swollen mark gingivitis. The signs of periodontitis include:

• Pus between your teeth and gums when you press against them
• Chronic bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth
• Gums that appear to be pulling away from your teeth
• A change in your bite, or the way your teeth come together
• Ill-fitting dentures
• Shifted or loose teeth

What Causes Gum Disease?

Gum disease is caused by plaque, the colorless and tasteless biofilm that builds in our mouths all day and every day. The bacteria in plaque excrete acids and other toxins that begin to destroy gum and bone tissue.

How Can I Avoid Gum Disease?

The answer is really quite simple: Remove the plaque in your mouth. That’s why you need to brush and floss your teeth every day. Brushing with fluoride toothpaste is not enough, by the way. That only removes plaque from the visible surfaces of your teeth. There is still plaque hiding between your teeth, which is why flossing is so important.

If plaque is not removed, then it hardens into a thick substance called tartar or calculus. This can only be removed at Arbor Dental Care by professional cleaning called scaling and root planing. For more advanced cases, Drs. Marchese may also recommend laser treatment to remove bacteria and help reattach gums, as well as a topical antibiotic to help eliminate the infection.

Call Your Lisle Dentist Today

If you are seeing any of the early signs of gum disease, then contact your Lisle dentist at Arbor Dental Care. We care for smiles in Lisle, IL, and the surrounding areas.