See Your Dentist Regularly to Prevent Gum Disease

One dental issue that some patients come across when they visit the dentist is gum disease. You may find out that you have this problem while you are getting a cleaning or regular check-up. While your dentist should explain this concept to you, it is nice to already have an idea so that you know how to prevent or treat it even before your appointment.

Gum disease means that your gums are infected due to plaque getting underneath. You will notice that your gums are swollen and bleed easily, especially when you are brushing and flossing, as they are extra sensitive. Many people who do not brush, floss, or see the dentist regularly end up having this condition. Even if you brush a couple of times per day, you may not be brushing your teeth long enough, or the toothbrush might not properly reach between the teeth very well. If you have not had a cleaning or regular check-up in years, you are especially likely to see the beginnings of this condition. In fact, it usually starts out as gingivitis, which is reversible. If you let it get to the point of gum disease, though, you will have it for life.

The good news is that you can treat this condition, and the earlier, the better. In the early stages, the treatment consists of a deep cleaning. This means that the dental hygienist has to numb your mouth, and then clean between the gums and the teeth, getting out all the bacteria that has accrued. In addition, there is usually tartar, which is hard plaque that is just more difficult to get rid of than the regular kind. For this reason, the deeper cleaning is more intense, and it tends to take longer. You can expect it to take up to two hours rather than the half hour or so of a regular cleaning. It may also cost more, so talk to your insurance company to find out how much you may have to pay.

Once the deep cleaning is done, you will have to continue to get better dental care for years. You can expect to go back to the dentist in about three months to have a shorter version of the same cleaning. In fact, you will have to go back about every three months until it is decided that the condition is getting better. This may take a couple of years. Once it seems better, your maintenance cleanings may be spaced farther apart, such as every four to six months. Eventually, you may be able to go back to regular cleanings, but this depends your age and the severity of the condition to begin with.

If you suspect gum disease, you should see the dentist to get it checked out. If you are treated in the early stages, you have a good chance of bouncing back so that you can eventually get regular cleanings in the future, rather than the longer, more expensive kind. The best way to prevent this issue altogether is to brush and floss regularly, and get cleanings twice per year.