What Is Gum Disease and Why Do You Have It?
April 10, 2017
Gum disease is a common oral ailment that can keep you from having an ideal smile and maintaining your oral health. Dr. J. Robert Friedberg is a periodontist in Houston, TX specializing in treating gum disease. At Friedberg Periodontics, we focus on educating our patients so they are better informed about what’s going on with their oral health and what they can do to fix or maintain it.
Gum Disease
There are two “tiers” of gum disease: gingivitis and periodontitis. Gingivitis occurs when the tissues of the gums become swollen, tender and/or red. Because this is a mild form of gum disease, it can be easily treated with proper eating, brushing and flossing.
Periodontitis is a more advanced form of gingivitis that has gone untreated. This occurs when the gums have started to recede and creates a waterfall effect where there is a chance the individual may lose teeth causing the bones of the jaw to lose density if the condition goes untreated for too long.
Reasons for Gum Disease
In regards to why a person suffers from gum disease, some of the more common reasons include:
- Health problems, such as diabetes
- Smoking
- Poor oral health habits
- A family history of gum disease
- Medications that cause dry mouth
- Hormonal changes
If any of these apply to you, it’s a good idea to consult with a periodontist in Houston, TX, to explore your treatment options.
Minimally Invasive Treatment
What’s so great about allowing Dr. Friedberg to treat your gum disease is that your treatment will be minimally invasive and virtually pain-free. This is because we only use the most cutting edge technology for the benefit of our patients and the betterment of their overall oral health.
Reach Out to Us
To determine whether you have gum disease, or if you’re interested in learning more about other treatment options, do not hesitate to contact a knowledgeable representative here at our dental office in Houston,TX!