Gum disease is a problem in the Research Triangle, in North Carolina, and across the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control, nearly half of Americans 30 and older have some form or periodontitis.

When gingivitis is added to the mix, some experts estimate that nearly three in four adults have some form of periodontal disease.

At Sunrise Dental, we don’t want any of our patients to suffer from gum disease. Our dentists in Chapel Hill, Durham, Raleigh, and Cary would prefer to help you prevent gum disease. If needed, we can provide non-surgical periodontal treatments as well.

You can help yourself by scheduling an appointment for a cleaning and examination. This will give our dental professionals an opportunity to examine your gums and remove the potential causes of gum infections.

The Consequences Of Gum Disease

Gum disease poses obvious problems for your oral health. If bacteria have grown to the point where you have gum disease, you could be facing multiple issues.

One possibility is an infected tooth. As gum disease develops, bacteria, plaque, and tartar can build on the roots of your teeth. If bacteria eats into the root, it could reach your root canals. Once there, it can cause inflammation of the pulp inside your tooth. Root canal therapy may be necessary.

Of course, gum disease can damage your gum tissue as well. The symptoms may include receding gums and damage to the bone that holds your teeth in place as well. When gum tissue separate from your teeth and the bone becomes weaker, you will understand why gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in the United States.

The risks of gum disease may extend beyond your mouth, however.

Periodontal disease have been linked to other health issues. Premature and low-birthweight babies are more likely when the mother has gum disease. Health experts have also found connections between gum disease and heart disease, diabetes, and strokes as well.

The reasons for those connections aren’t entirely clear, but they are all reasons to be concerned about your ongoing oral health.

When you come to Sunrise Dental, we want you to have a pleasant experience. But that’s only the start of what you will get from our dental professionals.

We will carefully examine your mouth for signs of gum disease. We know we can treat it more effectively if we catch it early.

Today would be a good day to schedule your next cleaning if you haven’t already done so.

Recognizing Gum Disease

Healthy gums should look pink and feel firm. That’s the ideal condition.

Any of the following signs and symptoms can indicate that you have some form of gum disease:

– gums that bleed

– gums that are redder than usual

– swollen gums

– tender or sore gums

– receding gums

– loose teeth

– constant bad breath

Red, swollen gums that bleed when you brush and floss are symptoms of gingivitis, the mild form of gum disease.

If the bleeding occurs more frequently, if your gums hurt, or if your teeth start to feel like they are loose or are shifting positions, then you could have the advanced gum disease. This is periodontitis.

Sunrise Dental can help you with either form of gum disease, but only if you make an appointment to see us. If you notice any of the symptoms above, please contact us as soon as possible.

Treating Gum Disease

At Sunrise Dental, we encourage all our patients to do the things they should to keep the bacteria in their mouths under control. That includes visiting us regularly for dental cleanings, but it also means brushing your teeth twice daily and cleaning between your teeth and gums every day.

This can often be enough to prevent and to treat gingivitis. Untreated gingivitis can develop into periodontitis, and periodontitis should only be treated by dental professionals.

At Sunrise Dental, we can address the early stages of periodontitis without surgery through scaling and root planing. During this procedure, we remove bacteria, plaque, and tartar that have built up on the roots of your teeth.

For more serious infections, we also have the PerioLase. This is a dental laser, and it allows us to remove infected gum tissue with cutting into the soft tissue. Instead, the laser evaporates the infected tissue. This preserves more of your healthy tissue and seals it at the same time.

Don’t Ignore The Signs Of Gum Disease

Call the nearest Sunrise Dental or contact us online right away if you notice periodontal disease in your mouth. Remember, our dentists have offices in Chapel Hill, Durham, Raleigh, and Cary.

Gum disease can be treated, and the earlier you seek treatment, the more effective it will be.