Maintaining the health of your teeth is more than just regular brushing and flossing, although those are very important. At Advance Family Dental Care, Dr. Pirooz Zomorrodi, a family dentist in Naperville, IL, provides his patients with services to prevent and treat gum disease.
What is gum disease?
Gum disease, gingivitis, starts in gums when bacterial infections form because of food and beverages left behind. Symptoms include chronic bad breath, tender, swollen gums, and minor bleeding after brushing or flossing.
Gum disease occurs because of long-term exposure to plaque, a sticky colorless film on teeth. Severe gum disease, periodontal disease, causes gums to separate from the teeth, increasing the likelihood of even more infection and decay in gaps between teeth and gums. This may eventually lead to tooth loss if not treated.
Loss of teeth may result in other serious problems, like abscesses, bone loss, or periodontitis, which is a severe gum infection that leads to tooth loss and other health complications.
Pregnancy, interestingly enough, has been linked to gingivitis because of hormonal changes that promote plaque production. So make sure you speak with your dentist and gynecologist about how to manage your diet until you have the baby.
How to treat periodontitis?
One method your Naperville family dentist uses is root planing, which is cleaning below the gum line to smoothen roots. This enables gums to reattach to the tooth.
Preventative Measures
Other than the brushing and flossing mentioned above, you should visit your family dentist for routine checkups so Dr. Zomorrodi can properly examine teeth for any issues. The other way to prevent gum disease or halt it during its early stages is by receiving a professional dental cleaning from your dentist.
Need a consultation?
If you'd like to learn more about gum disease and how to treat it, then you should call Dr. Pirooz Zomorrodi of Advance Family Dental Care in Naperville, IL, by calling (630) 358-9899 today!