Why Periodontitis Requires Dental Help

If you have had gum disease before, you probably know that early on, it's possible to reverse it all on your own. However, later on, dentists typically say that people can't reverse gum disease after it's progressed. If you're wondering why this is, keep reading to discover why.

What Advanced Gum Disease Is

Although periodontitis is often called a disease, it's also an infection. This is the main reason why a dentist needs to help you with it.

Like other infections, there's a wide range of levels of gum disease. Early on, the infection will be minor and only in one small part of the tissue. In these stages, it's easy enough for you to treat with the tools you have at home, just like how you can disinfect a wound with rubbing alcohol. However, if it's allowed to continue growing and spreading, it can infect all of your gums and severely damage the tissue. This serious infection needs to be treated the same way that a badly infected wound anywhere else in your body would be: by a medical professional like those at Reconstructive & Implant Dental - Edward M Amet DDS.

Its Partners in Crime

Getting rid of your infection isn't the only job that the dentist has set out for them. Gum disease tends to either be caused by or can cause tartar buildup on your teeth and gums.

As you probably know, plaque is no problem for floss and a toothbrush to get rid of. However, tartar is much harder, stickier, and can't be removed at home. Unfortunately, tartar can encapsulate your gums and increase inflammation. Your dentist will likely clean your teeth and gums first in order to get rid of any tartar buildup, which will immediately begin to help your condition.

Treatment

How gum disease is treated depends upon its severity. In some cases, a thorough dental cleaning and antibiotics may be enough. In others, removing damaged tissue may be necessary in order to prevent further damage to healthy neighboring cells. Alternatively, in severe cases, surgery may be required to remove damaged bone, tissue, and potentially a tooth if the infection has spread to a tooth.

Getting help for gum disease as early as you can is one good way to prevent periodontitis. If you think or know that you already have advanced gum disease, don't put off making an appointment and getting it treated. Without help, you could experience a far worse outcome and even lose one or more teeth. Get treated before it becomes unmanageable and irreversible. 


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