8 Signs You Need Periodontal Treatment

Periodontal health is a significant part of overall dental health that patients rarely acknowledge. The success of your oral health efforts is not only determined by the state of your teeth. The rest of your mouth also affects the health thereof.

Periodontists in Phoenix spend several hours treating various cases of periodontal disease because of the neglect that many patients have. If you want to excel in your oral health, then ensure that your periodontal health is also properly cared for at all times.

What Is Periodontal Health?

It is dental care that focuses on the health of the periodontium, which largely covers the gums and the bone tissue. When a dentist in gum disease tells you that your periodontal health is compromised, they are referring to gum infection.

Commonly known as gum disease, the infection of your gum tissue can significantly compromise your oral health. Unfortunately, most patients that get to the point of needing periodontal treatment in Phoenix, AZ have the worst kinds of gum infection.

Understanding More About Periodontal Disease

The disease of the gum tissue manifests in two main stages. Depending on which stage you are at, the consequences of the infection will differ.

1. Gingivitis – it is the mild and moderate case of gum infection. At this stage, your gums are infected on the surface, and not much damage has been suffered. However, it does not take long before progression begins, and you graduate to the next stage.
2. Periodontitis – the infection, at this stage, has spread to a wider portion of your mouth. In most cases, it is not only your gum tissue that is damaged but also the bone tissue underneath. You can no longer downplay gum disease when it gets to this stage.

When Should You Seek Treatment For Gum Disease?

As soon as you notice and anomaly in your mouth, you should be considering visiting a dentist near you. However, it is not always that the symptoms will be straightforward. It takes a keen eye to notice the changes that are happening in your oral cavity. As the issue progresses, the signs will be clearer and hard to ignore.

1. Bleeding of the gums – monitor your gums when you brush your teeth or when you chew. The bleeding may not be severe, but unless you have a wound or sore, bleeding should not be happening in the first place.
2. Mouth sores – as the infection breaches your gum tissue, it causes mouth sores. They are a lot similar to canker sores, only that they keep reoccurring because of the infection.
3. Swelling and tenderness – water retention is not uncommon at the sight of an infection. Instead, it is a response to the body’s immune system.
4. Pain – the infection will trigger the nerve endings in your mouth. Alongside with the swelling, the infection will cause you pain and discomfort whenever you eat or bite something. If you are not careful, you are likely to dismiss the discomfort as an issue with muscle fatigue and tightness.
5. Bad breath – this has to do with having open mouth sores, harboring bacteria, and plaque in your mouth. You will notice a bad mouth breath that does not seem to go away even with efforts to deal with it.
6. Receding gums – soon enough, your gums will start detaching from your teeth, and gradually drawing away from them. One way to notice this is to check how much of your tooth is above the gum tissue. If you can see the roots of your teeth, then your gums are not covering enough surfaces.
7. Wobbly teeth – once the bone tissue underneath the gums is affected, there is no way your teeth will still be stable and secure in your jawbone. The lack of proper support from the gums and bone tissue causes your teeth to feel shaky. Worse, the infection can even cause them to fall off. This is usually a sign that you are at the most severe stage of gum disease.
8. Dental cavities – if it is not enough a scare that your teeth are shaky, add the problem of dental decay. While not all patients of gum disease have dental decay, it is still an indicator of the disease. Since one of the common causes of gum disease is poor oral hygiene, it explains why you would have cavities and dental decay.