Dr. Edwin Yee, your Pensacola, FL, dentist, provides comprehensive dental care for patients to prevent tooth decay, gum disease, and preserve their oral health. Gum disease, or gingivitis, is a common reason to seek out dental care. Keep reading about the warning signs of gingivitis and come see us for a routine cleaning to help prevent gum disease.
Warning Signs of Gingivitis
Gum disease occurs when plaque and tartar build up on the surfaces of the teeth. The bacteria irritates the gums and they become red, inflamed, and start to pull away from the teeth. It's important to see your dentist as soon as you notice symptoms. When you leave gingivitis untreated it progresses to periodontitis. This stage of gum disease starts to damage the jaw bone and can lead to tooth loss!
When you notice your gums bleeding easily as you brush and floss, this is a sure sign of gum disease. Some other warning signs include:
- Swollen gums
- Gums that are tender to the touch
- Receding gums
- Bad breath
See your Pensacola, FL, dentist as soon as you notice any of these symptoms to get treatment before your gum disease progresses.
Treating gum disease
When you have gum disease, your dentist may recommend a deep-cleaning procedure called scaling and root planing. This removes all plaque and tartar from your teeth and sculpts the teeth near the root so your gums can grow back in around them. Depending on your case, your dentist may recommend laser therapy instead, which targets diseased gum tissue to allow your gums to grow back healthy.
If you have gingivitis your Pensacola, FL, dentist Dr. Edwin Yee can help you with treatment before it progresses to periodontitis and compromises your jaw bone. Call us as soon as you notice symptoms for an appointment at (850) 479-3355.