Gum Exam
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The gums and its supporting structure play an integral role in your dental hygiene. If left unattended, they can harbor bacteria and cause complications that will negatively affect your oral hygiene. Scheduling dental examinations of your gums and their supporting muscles will allow a professional to clean up any imperfections and spot more serious issues before they advance too far. At Red Bank Smiles, our thorough examinations conducted by members of our experienced staff will help keep your smile vibrant and healthy.
The Purpose of Gums
Having healthy gums goes a long way in maintaining proper oral health. Gums are made from muscle tissue and tightly wrap around the structures that hold your teeth in place to protect them from damage and pain. But your gums are sensitive, so they may be susceptible to bleeding or disease of their own. Be sure to be gentle while brushing or flossing to prevent your gums from bleeding afterward. If you are noticing that your gums are bleeding easily when you don’t apply too much pressure, then it may be a sign of gum disease and you should schedule an appointment with your dentist immediately.
Issues with Your Gums
Gum disease is a common issue that affects many adults. There are different stages of gum disease depending on the severity, including:
- Gingivitis: Most people who are afflicted with gum disease only reach this early stage. It starts when plaque builds on your teeth and hardens, resulting in inflammation and bleeding during brushing. Fortunately, this can be reversed if caught early enough through appointments with your dentist and regular brushing and flossing.
- Periodontitis: If your gum disease is allowed to proceed without intervention, it can develop into periodontitis, which is more severe. This stage can cause structural damage to your gums and supporting structures around your teeth. Pockets may form in between your gums and teeth that collect bacteria and cause your teeth to loosen. This will cause more serious dental procedures to fix the problem.
What to Expect During a Dental Exam
To stop gum disease from spreading to a more serious stage, it’s important to have your gums examined regularly. While brushing and flossing at home is crucial to keeping your mouth free of harmful bacteria, it’s impossible to completely prevent plaque from building up on your teeth. During a dental exam, a member of our staff may conduct a few different methods to treat gum disease, such as:
- Scaling: This is a simple procedure where the plaque and tartar are removed from both above and below your gum line.
- Planing: In order to help prevent bacteria from collecting, rough spots on your tooth root will be smoothed out so the gums can securely reattach to your teeth.
After these processes are completed and the status of your mouth is inspected, we may prescribe certain medicines that will help keep your gums healthy. If none of these efforts are working, then surgical options may be explored.
Keep Your Mouth Clean
When trying to keep your teeth and mouth healthy and clean, it is important not to forget about your gums. Without proper attention, your gums could cause serious problems that spread to your teeth and weaken their ability to do their job. In order to prevent this from happening, schedule regular dental gum examinations from professionals you trust. At Red Bank Smiles, we utilize the most up-to-date technology and methods to ensure your appointment is as painless and simple as possible. To schedule an examination, please contact us today.
