If you’re brushing and flossing your teeth only to spit a little pink in the sink, you shouldn’t dismiss it as a sign of aggressive oral hygiene. In many cases, this is an early sign that you might have gum disease.
Research conducted by the American Dental Association estimates that 47% of people over the age of 30 have gum disease. The Centers for Disease Control have also reported that an estimated 64% of people over the age of 65 have some advanced form of gum disease.
This periodontal infection typically starts out as gingivitis. This can cause your gums to look inflamed, bleed easily, and cause chronic bad breath. Early on, gingivitis might be treated by a dental cleaning with Drs. Scrimalli, Ratchford, and Ahmadzadeh. Once this has removed all traces of tartar from your teeth and gum line, you can further prevent recurrence of gum disease with improvements to your daily oral hygiene routine.
Without professional care, gingivitis can escalate as the bacterial presence and inflammation causes your gums to slowly recede from the base of your teeth. In time, the deep infection near the roots can weaken the bones. This could eventually cause the loss of multiple teeth in one area of your mouth.
If you live in the Lake Ariel, Pennsylvania, area and you have gum health concerns, you should call 570-689-2449 to seek diagnosis and treatment from our dentists.