Gum Disease Treatment in Temple, TX
Do your gums look red and puffy? Do they bleed when you brush and floss? Both are symptoms of gum (periodontal) disease, which needs to be treated to protect your overall oral health.
At Lakewood Dental Trails, we provide skilled gum disease treatment to our Temple, TX dental patients. We'll work with you to resolve the problem and restore your gum health.
How Gum Disease Affects Your Oral Health
Gum disease, or periodontal disease, affects as many as one-half of all American adults. Gingivitis and periodontitis are the two main types of gum disease. Gingivitis is the early stage of gum disease, which can lead to periodontitis in its advanced stages. In the early stages, gum disease isn't always accompanied by pain or swelling, which makes it difficult to detect without a comprehensive dental exam at Lakewood Dental Trails.
When detected early with general dentistry, gingivitis is treatable and the effects can be reversed. Treatment options include a professional dental cleaning and treatment regimen by your dental team, in combination with your own routine home oral care.
Much of the impact of gum disease occurs below the gum line, so the effects may occur before you can identify the onset of gingivitis. Patients are often not aware of the presence of gum disease until physical symptoms become pronounced.
Common symptoms of gingivitis include redness, inflammation, and bleeding of the gums from normal brushing or flossing, or under light pressure. Bad breath and sensitivity to hot or cold are also common symptoms of gum disease. As the disease progresses, the gums begin to recede from the teeth, creating pockets where bacteria can form. Pockets in the gums begin to form where food particles can lodge, increasing the risk of infection.
