According to the CDC, half of American adults suffer from some form of gum disease. The root cause of gum disease is plaque build-up on your teeth, which hardens over time and becomes tartar. Harmful bacteria in your mouth thrive from eating this tartar, which then can spread the infection to your gums. Fortunately, gum disease is reversible if you treat it in its early stages.

Gingivitis

Gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease. It’s characterized by inflamed, tender, or bloody gums. Despite these signs, gingivitis is difficult to self-diagnose because it’s not typically painful.

Reversing Gingivitis

Reversing the effects of gingivitis is possible, but you need to seek treatment immediately. Gum disease is only reversible while it’s at this stage.

At-Home Care

Fighting gingivitis starts with proper oral care. Your dentist in Owensboro and Beaver Dam, KY recommends that you brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes at a time and floss once a day. You should also drastically reduce your sugar intake to help slow plaque build-up.

Professional Cleaning

You’ll need professional teeth cleaning in Owensboro and Beaver Dam, KY to truly reverse gingivitis. Your dentist will scrape the tartar off your teeth, something you can’t do at home with just regular brushing.

Scaling and Planing

The process of removing tartar below the gum line is called scaling and planing. It’s imperative to remove this tartar because bacteria in this area of your mouth can grow out of control.

Untreated gum disease can result in tooth loss, jaw bone damage, and may require invasive surgery. Treating gum disease before it progresses past gingivitis is your only shot at reversing it, so diligent oral care and regular check-ups with your dentist in Beaver Dam and Owensboro, KY are of the utmost importance.