Gingivitis: Early Warning of Gum Disease

Gingivitis is the earliest form of gum disease and the most easily treated. Many times it can be treated at home by simply increasing the depth of your oral hygiene routine.

However, because gingivitis tends to have very mild symptoms, it’s also common for it to go unnoticed. Leaving gingivitis to fester can lead to full blow periodontitis, which can cause a lot more problems.

Identifying Gingivitis in Houston

The absolute best way to identify gingivitis is the visit your Houston dentist and describe any symptoms you are experiencing. Using a keenly trained eye, they will inspect your teeth and gums and based on the symptoms you’re experiencing, can determine if gingivitis is at fault.

The most common symptoms to keep watch for are swollen gums, tender to the touch gums, bleeding from the gums, and discoloration of the gums.

You may only have one symptom, all four, or none at all. Most people associate gingivitis with bleeding of the gums, which is usually noticed when brushing their teeth.

It’s not uncommon for gingivitis symptoms to be so mild that your don’t notice them. The swelling can be easy to miss, any discoloration will likely just be a brighter red or a milky white color, and they may not feel tender.

Since the symptoms are so easy to miss, it’s important to see your Houston dentist twice per year. They will ask you about your oral health between visits, and based on your responses can look into the causes of things like gingivitis.

Gingivitis Treatment in Houston

After a diagnosis of gingivitis is made, your Houston dentist will perform a deep cleaning of your teeth. Using specialized tools like a water jet and dental probe, they will forcibly remove bacteria and plaque that have collected around your gums.

Once this thorough professional cleaning is completed, the dentist may prescribe a medicated mouthwash to use at home. It will help with killing lingering bacteria in difficult to reach areas.

You will also need to up your game on the oral hygiene front to keep your teeth clean and prevent bacteria from collecting and growing.

Gingivitis is pretty easy to treat and reverse the damage of. It can usually be accomplished with home care and especially effective after getting a professional cleaning from your Houston dentist.

The real trick is treating it early.

What Happens if You Don’t Catch Gingivitis Early?

Gum disease is a steadily progressing disease. If you don’t take care of it as soon as you discover it, it will continue to worse.

Gingivitis is just the first of three stages of gum disease. With mild symptoms, it’s easy to ignore or miss, but as it progresses, the damage it can do increases and the measures needed to stop it become more aggressive.

At the middle stage, periodontitis, the gums have become infected and can be painful. They are often noticeably swollen and can also be discolored, either a bright red or a purple color.

As it progresses further, it will cause infections deep in the gums, creating abscesses that can cause teeth to loosen and fall out. The gum line recedes exposing the teeth to further bacterial infection.

At its worst, gum disease can infect the jaw, which can also lead to tooth loss as well as a host of other problems.

The later stages of this disease require treatments that are uncomfortable but necessary to preserve your health. By taking steps to stop gum disease as soon as you notice it, you’ll be saving yourself a lot of pain and money.

Early Detection of Periodontal Disease Means Easy Treatment

Gum disease is a problem that affects nearly half of all Americans, including up to 70% of senior citizens.

Many people may not even realize they have gum disease until it becomes a very big problem, which is why it is important to regularly see a Houston periodontist.

A periodontist in Houston will examine your gums using various techniques including x-rays and probing in addition to a visual examination to find signs of gum disease cropping up.

Symptoms of Periodontal Disease

Periodontal disease is often characterized by swollen and tender gums. For milder forms of the disease, no outward symptoms may be visible, or they may go unnoticed by the untrained eye.

A Houston periodontist will thoroughly examine your teeth and gums, looking for the signs of gum disease such as the swelling and discoloration.

Typical Periodontal Exam

Like with seeing a Houston dentist, a periodontal exam involves a thorough visual examination of your gums. The periodontist checks the front and back of teeth looking for collections of plaque and symptoms of periodontal disease.

Using x-rays, the periodontist can see what’s going on underneath the gums. In severe cases of gum disease, infections may show up on the x-rays, showing the periodontist where to concentrate their efforts.

A dental probe is used to check pocket depth around the teeth and gums. In a healthy patient’s gums, there should be very shallow pockets seen.

If there are larger pockets, bacteria can more easily take up residence and cause an infection, which leads to gum disease.

Most of the time, periodontal disease is caused by allowing plaque and tartar to form around the gum line.

If this material is not regularly cleared away, it hardens and protects bacteria that can wreak havoc under your gums.

Treating Periodontal Disease

In moderate cases of periodontal disease, your Houston periodontist will use a method called scaling and root planning to remove the bacteria and help prevent it from returning.

Scaling is a method of actually scraping the bacteria from the tooth. It can be a bit uncomfortable, but with sedation dentistry it’s not as bad.

Root planning is procedure that smooths out the roots of teeth. When the surface of a tooth is rough, bacteria can cling to it and it can be more difficult to remove, which is why scaling is necessary.

Once the bacteria has been removed and any inflections are cleared up, the gums will begin to heal on their own and any swelling, pain, and discoloration will go away.

It is important to maintain a healthy regimen of daily oral hygiene after being treated for periodontal disease. Only by keeping your teeth healthy and clean can you prevent the bacteria from causing problems again.

If periodontal disease progresses too far, the methods for stopping its progression become more aggressive and uncomfortable.

Ideally, it’s best to get regular checkups and address the problem of gum disease as soon as it surfaces, rather than waiting it out to see if it gets better.

Early treatment is not only easier to do, it is less costly and more effective at reversing any damage.

Gingivitis Treatment in Houston: Professional or Home Care?

Nearly every American will experience gingivitis at some point in their life. Most of the time it is when they are seniors and their gum line has receded some, but some may experience it sooner.

Gingivitis is caused by bacteria irritating the soft tissue under your gums.

The bacteria can gather under the gum line if you’re not diligent enough about brushing and flossing your teeth.

Bacterial waste matter, known as plaque, is left behind by the bacteria and it can be used as a type of defense, keeping the bacteria in place despite the probing of toothpicks and toothbrushes.

If this plaque is left untouched for a couple of days, it hardens to form tartar, which can be more difficult to get rid of than plaque.

Identifying Gingivitis

Gingivitis’ most common and easily visible characteristic is causing the gums to bleed. They may not ooze blood, but rather you may notice a redness in your saliva when brushing your teeth.

This is often the first sign that people notice, but it is not always the only one present.

Another symptom of gingivitis is swollen or puffy gums. The bacteria is causing the soft tissue of your gums to become inflamed, which makes them swell.

Additionally, some people may notice a tenderness of the gums. This is less common in the gingivitis stage of gum disease, but more common in later stages.

The symptoms of gingivitis are often so mild that many people don’t notice them or pay any mind to them until they either resolve on their own or they advance to periodontal disease.

The only way to officially diagnose gingivitis is with a visit to your Memorial Galleria area dentist in Houston. They will perform a visual examination and based on the symptoms you describe, can determine if it is indeed gingivitis.

Gingivitis Treatment in Houston

When you visit the dentist, they will conduct a good cleaning of your teeth, particularly focusing on the gum line, as this is where much of the bacteria is collected.

They may prescribe a medicated mouthwash in notably bad cases, but most often you will be able to treat gingivitis at home with proper, regular dental hygiene practices.

The dentist will show you the best way to brush and floss your teeth to effectively remove plaque and bacteria that causes gingivitis.

Following this regimented course of brushing, flossing, and rinsing, you can clear away the bacteria and reverse the damage caused by gingivitis. Maintaining the regimen afterward will prevent gingivitis from striking again in the future.

While it is definitely possible to treat gingivitis on your own at home, it’s not recommended that you do so.

A professional evaluation from a dentist can, with knowledge of your medical history, determine a possible alternative source of the disease.

Gum disease can stem from certain other ailments like diabetes as well as some medications. Your dentist should know what health conditions you have and medicines you take to make an accurate diagnosis.

In some cases, a dentist may actually be able to detect an underlying disease before a doctor has officially diagnosed it.

The reason for having a dentist diagnose the symptoms and cause of gingivitis is to treat the root cause.

Improving your home oral hygiene routine is not going to improve your gingivitis situation if it is being caused by another disease.

This is why it is especially important to follow up with your dentist for scheduled appointments and regular checkups every six months.

Your New Houston Dentist

Searching for the best dentist in Houston can feel like an arduous task. So many dentists in the city, so many references to search through, and so many opinions on who does the best work.

At Naba Dental, the team led by Dr. Rubab Mirza stands on their reputation and commitment to excellence in the community.

Dr. Rubab Mirza emphasizes conservative dentistry, which focuses on preventing tooth decay and gum disease through regular checkups and proper oral hygiene.

She has worked in the dentistry field for over a decade, helping families develop and maintain healthy teeth. Her strength as a pediatric dentist has provided a way for children to feel comfortable in a dental setting with warm friendly faces and an inviting atmosphere.

Finding a Houston dentist that specializes in both adults and children takes more effort in searching due to the extra qualifications needed to be able to treat both. The qualifications for pediatric dentists are considerably more robust, and many dentists who work with children will only work with children.

However, at Naba Dental, the whole family is able to be seen by a single Houston dentist. And with a convenient location in west central Houston, near the Galleria, Memorial, and Tanglewood areas, it’s easier than ever to visit the best family dentist around.

Helping Children Feel Relaxed at the Dentist

The staff at Naba is welcoming and loves to interact with children, helping them feel at ease, particularly when it’s a new place for them.

Familiarity with the staff helps a child’s fear of the dentist and the gentle approach of Dr. Rubab Mirza and her staff keeps them calm through any procedure.

If a child is still uncomfortable with dental visits, sedation dentistry can be used to put their minds at ease. Sedation dentistry provides a completely safe, constantly monitored state of relaxed calm for a child through the use of nitrous oxide gas or IV sedation.

These methods reduce pain and awareness of time, making it seem like the dental visit goes by much faster for the child. And the interactivity between the staff and children makes them feel welcome and part of the Naba family.

Top Dental Services

With an emphasis on conservative dentistry, many procedures are non-invasive, consisting of cleanings, dental sealants, and general oral health checkups. In the event treatments are needed, Naba Dental is fully equipped to deal with any problem.

Repairing decayed teeth with fillings and root canals, fixing a broken tooth, and creating a brand new tooth to replace a lost one are just some of the procedures Naba is capable of. In addition, support services like sedation dentistry are available for patients who are nervous about having a procedure done.

Care for Both Teeth and Gums

Caring for your teeth is only half of the equation. Your gums are equally important, and making sure they are in good health will in turn maintain good health for your teeth. Gum disease can be a particularly devastating problem in its later stages, making conservative dentistry a must to avoid plaque buildup and the onset of periodontal disease.

At Naba Dental, you get the whole package. Affordable dental and periodontal care for the whole family all in one convenient location. 

Home Treatment of Gingivitis in Houston

Gingivitis is the earliest and least harmful form of gum disease, but if it is not addressed within this early stage, it can become much worse over time.

Gingivitis treatments generally involve a deep cleaning to remove bacteria from under and around the gum line. Once the bacteria is cleared out, the gums will heal on their own.

So what’s the best way to treat gingivitis, both at a dentist and at home?

Gingivitis Treatment at Home

There are several methods to combat gingivitis in your daily oral hygiene routine. From the toothpaste you use to flossing and rinsing, every step helps remove and protect against bacteria.

●     Antibacterial Toothpaste
This special kind of toothpaste is specifically designed to attack bacteria. Most toothpaste is to replenish lost minerals to protect teeth, but sometimes you need something with a bit more power.

Antibacterial toothpaste works long after your routine is complete, fighting germs around the clock.

●     Daily Flossing
Flossing removes bits of food that can get stuck between teeth. These food particles become a food source for bacteria when left in place, and it can cause an exponential level of growth.

Toothbrushes aren’t always able to loosen food particles between teeth, so regular flossing is recommended to help out.

●     Antibacterial Mouthwash
Once you’ve brushed and flossed, there may still be little particles of food left in your mouth. An antibacterial mouthwash will kill any germs attached to them or any other surface in your mouth, and will also flush out remaining particles.

Advanced Brushing Techniques to Prevent Gum Disease

You should brush your teeth two times per day, preferably after meals, and brush for two minutes each time.

Hold the toothbrush at a 45° angle to your gums and brush with short circular strokes. Keep the pressure light to effectively loosen food particles and plaque.

Be sure to brush all of the surfaces of your teeth, including inside and outside, as well as chewing surfaces.

When flossing, use about 18 inches of floss. Wind most of the floss around one finger and a short amount around a finger on your other hand.

As you clean each tooth, unwind the floss to a fresh section.

Slide the floss up and down the sides of each tooth in a gentle sawing motion. Curve the floss around the bottom of a tooth as you gently slide it under the gum line to remove plaque.

By performing these methods of cleaning, you will remove a large amount of plaque and bacteria that could cause gingivitis. If symptoms of gingivitis persist after cleaning in this manner, contact your Houston dentist for a professional dental cleaning.

Professional Gingivitis Treatment in Houston

If the above methods and products don’t help alleviate gingivitis symptoms, it’s time to get serious.

Schedule an appointment with your Houston dentist or periodontist to have them examine and treat your gingivitis.

A professional deep cleaning will remove even more plaque and bacteria, which will help immensely with alleviating symptoms. Dentists and periodontists also know specifically what to look for with gum disease, so they’ll know how best to treat it.

If necessary, your Houston dentist may prescribe an antibiotic to fight an infection that’s causing gingivitis symptoms and to prevent more serious cases of periodontal disease.

Advanced Periodontal Disease: Death by Gum Disease

Chances are you’ve never really thought about gum disease killing you. And in all likelihood, it probably won’t, but the possibility is there.

Advanced periodontal disease is a severe form of gum disease that has reached deep into the tissue and possibly to the jaw bones.

It is often characterized by receding gums, major changes in the color of the gums, persistent bad breath, loose or loss of teeth, and pockets of pus around the gums.

People usually reach this stage of gum disease by not recognizing and treating the earlier stages.

The Lethality of Advanced Periodontal Disease

On its own, advanced periodontal disease is not lethal. Instead, infections caused by bacteria that also cause the periodontal disease can lead to a lethal heart condition.

Bacterial endocarditis is a disease whereby bacteria in another part of the body enters the bloodstream and reaches the heart, specifically the valves and chambers of it. This bacteria can cause harm to the heart, possibly leading to a heart attack and death.

The overall likelihood of this happening is fairly low, but it should still be considered as a good reason to have a Houston periodontist check for periodontal disease on a regular basis.

Dangerous Diseases Linked with Advanced Periodontal Disease

Advanced periodontal disease is not always the forefront disease. Sometimes it is a symptom of a greater disease, such as diabetes.

Your mouth is a major indicator for your overall health, and some diabetic patients learned of their diabetes through oral problems before being officially diagnosed.

Diabetes, chronic bronchitis, and pulmonary fibrosis have all been linked with gum disease. The gum disease is usually a symptom of one of these major diseases, which can all have potentially life threatening scenarios.

Treating Advanced Periodontal Disease to Prolong Life

Treating advanced periodontal disease in Houston is one of the key factors in preventing one of the other diseases from wreaking havoc.

Regular visits to your local Houston dentist every six months as recommended by the American Dental Association will help you catch gum disease very early on at its most treatable levels.

If gum disease does progress to the advanced stage, treatment can be more invasive and uncomfortable. But not treating it will lead to far more disastrous results.

Infections stemming from the disease can spread to jawbones, and from there can enter the bloodstream, leading to a possibility of bacterial endocarditis.

In less severe scenarios, it can cause the bones and tissue hold teeth in place to degenerate, causing teeth to fall out.

Bone and tissue grafts are very uncomfortable, so the sooner you treat advanced periodontal disease, the better off you’ll be.

Avoiding Risk Factors for Periodontal Disease

There are several factors that can increase the chances of developing periodontal disease.

●     Smoking or chewing tobacco

●     High stress

●     Diabetes

●     Poorly fitting dental bridges and crowns

●     Poor fillings

●     Crooked teeth or wisdom teeth that erupt improperly

●     Medications that decrease saliva

Watching for and managing these risk factors will decrease the chances of developing periodontal disease.

In addition to the recommended six month checkups, be sure to maintain proper oral hygiene at home.

Brushing and flossing your teeth twice per day will clear plaque from your teeth and gum line while a mouth rinse will flush it out of your mouth.

Professional cleanings provided by your dentist can get much deeper results, making them more effective, but home care will go a long way toward preventing gum disease.