The Facts About Gingivitis
December 14, 2018
Gum disease comes in various stages, and the earliest stage is known as gingivitis. This is when the condition is the easiest to treat, so you should schedule an appointment with our dentist in Thousand Oaks, CA as soon as you notice the symptoms. Here are the basics of what you need to know about this potentially dangerous condition.
Causes
Gum disease develops when you fail to brush and floss your teeth. A poor diet lacking in vitamin C also exacerbates the condition. Additional risk factors include:
- Hormonal changes, such as those that occur during puberty and menopause
- Certain diseases, such as HIV and diabetes
- Regularly smoking tobacco
- Genetics
- Taking certain medications
Symptoms
Occasionally, gingivitis is asymptomatic, which means you will not notice it is there. However, the most common symptoms include bleeding from the gums, chronic bad breath and a receding gum line. You may also spot bright purple or red gum tissue in your mouth. This is why it is so critical to visually inspect your own mouth regularly so that you can find any irregularities right away.
Risks of Not Undergoing Treatment
Gum disease is relatively easy to treat as long as you have Dr. Jacqueline Subka treat it in its early stages. However, if you fail to get it treated, then it will progress into periodontitis. This is a much more serious form of gum disease that is much harder to treat. Additionally, the complications of periodontitis include abscesses forming on the gum tissue or jawbone. At this stage, the bone tissue and your teeth will begin to degrade, and your teeth may eventually fall out.
Treat Gingivitis in Our Office
The sooner you get gum disease under control, the better off you will be. You never want to delay contacting the office of Jacqueline Subka DDS, APC so that we can come up with a treatment plan to help make your gum tissue healthy once again.