Why Do I Keep Getting Gum Disease?
Gum disease happens when plaque hardens into tartar on your teeth and gums. Plaque is an invisible film of bacteria that eats the sugar on your teeth to produce acid. This acid erodes tooth enamel and attacks your gums, .
Symptoms of gum disease include:
- Bleeding gums
- Sore gums
- Swollen gums
- Receding gums
- Sensitive teeth
- Persistent bad breath
Aren’t sure if you have gum disease? Don’t wait to schedule an appointment with one of our dentists in Shelby Township, MI. They’ll be able to examine your mouth for . For example, receding gums can expose your tooth roots and lead to having sensitive teeth.
The earlier you catch gum disease, the more likely we’ll be able to reverse it. While gingivitis (gum inflammation) is reversible, periodontitis isn’t.
You Neglect Your Oral Health
You may have gum disease if you neglect your oral health. The American Dental Association recommends that you brush your teeth twice a day. Make sure that you brush for at least two minutes so you’re able to clean around each tooth.
You should also floss your teeth once a day. Doing this will remove plaque and food particles caught between teeth. When flossing, gently pull the strand around so it hugs the tooth. Then, slide the floss up and down. You want to make sure that you’re cleaning every crevice in your mouth where plaque could hide.
You Consume a Lot of Sugary Drinks and Foods
The bacteria inside your mouth love sugar as much as you do. That’s why it’s important to reduce how many sugary foods and drinks you consume. Otherwise, the bacteria will eat whatever sugar accumulates inside your mouth. It’ll then create an acid that destroys your gums and tooth enamel.
While it may seem weird to think about, saliva is your body’s natural defense against plaque. Saliva can also help wash away food particulates that want to stick against your teeth and gums.
If you aren’t able to brush your teeth after eating, chew sugarless gum instead. Chewing gum helps stimulate saliva production.
You Don’t See the Dentist
We recommend you schedule an appointment with our dentist at least every 6 months. Although we may recommend more frequent visits if you struggle with gum disease.
During your appointment, we’ll examine your mouth and may take X-rays. The X-rays will help us see if there are any problems lurking beneath the surface.
Our next step would be to gently scrape the plaque and tartar off your teeth. While you can remove plaque at home, only a dental professional can remove tartar. We use a special tool called a scaler to safely .
We also offer gum disease treatment in our office, which is called scaling and root planing. During this procedure, we remove plaque and tartar both above and below the gum line. We’ll also smooth out your tooth roots so receding gums have a better chance of attaching.
Need Help Fighting Gum Disease?
The more you take care of your gums, the more they’ll take care of you! Preventing and treating gum disease will help protect your health in the long run.
Our dentists and their staff would be more than happy to help you maintain good oral health. But first, you’ll need to schedule an appointment with one of our . Call Frank P. Ruffino DDS at (586) 799-4240.
