Your dentist’s job is to worry about things that might affect your oral health, so when you visit, you may hear quite a bit about gum disease. As the leading cause of adult tooth loss, gum disease can affect nearly anyone and lead to a host of subsequent dental issues. Even if you maintain a consistent schedule of good hygiene, your dentist may worry about gum disease developing unnoticed. Therefore, we can help you gain an advantage by teaching you what you should know about how it forms and the effects it can have on your smile.  

How It All Begins

Gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease, and it describes an infection in your gums resulting from excessive oral bacteria. When the bacteria gather on your gums, they release substances that irritate the tissues, inflaming them and causing them to recede from your teeth. The resulting periodontal pockets create spaces where more bacteria can gather, exacerbating the inflammation until gum disease develops.

The Serious Effects of Gum Disease

When gum disease develops, the rampant inflammation and infection can destroy the affected gum and periodontal tissues. If left untreated, it can also erode your jawbone structure, making it weak and unable to fully support your teeth. As a result, many people need to extract one or more teeth as part of restoring their smile, allowing their dentist to replace the tooth with a durable, lifelike prosthesis, such as a dental implant-supported crown. Keeping gum disease under control with periodic maintenance will be necessary to ensure the success of your tooth replacement and the preservation of your remaining healthy, natural teeth.

Gain an Edge Over Gum Disease

Stop worrying about gum disease by keeping a close eye on your oral health. To find out if you have gum disease, or if you can do more to prevent it, schedule a consultation by calling Dr. Steven Huffstutler in Ft. Worth, TX, today at 817-918-3038.