Approximately 50 percent of all adults have gum disease by age 30, with that figure jumping to 75 percent by age 65. Unfortunately, most people are unaware that they have gum disease because its early symptoms are usually not noticeable. By the time Dr. Isaac Qureshi of Smiles of Elgin Dental Care diagnoses your gum disease, it may already be in the advanced stages. Many patients ask us at this time “How to counter gum disease?” Favorably, there is time to do this.

Indications You May Have Gum Disease

Gum disease is caused by inflammation, which in turn is caused by a build-up of bacteria. You may still develop gum disease even if you brush and floss your teeth regularly. Because of this, it’s important to know the symptoms so you can receive treatment for gum disease as early as possible. These include:

Blood on your toothbrush or piece of dental floss
Sores in your mouth that take a long time to heal
A receding gum line
Teeth that feel loose
Redness or swelling of the gums
Chronic halitosis (bad breath) despite regular brushing and use of mouthwash
Your risk of developing gum disease increases if you smoke, clench your teeth, are pregnant, or lead a high-stress lifestyle.

Gum Disease Treatment

If you already have gum disease, the best way to reverse it is by undergoing scaling and root planing with Dr. Isaac Qureshi. This process, which is also called deep cleaning, removes plaque and tartar from your teeth as well as shrinks gum pockets. This is especially important because gum pockets attract bacteria that causes more plaque and tartar to develop. Before he starts the deep cleaning procedure, Dr. Isaac Qureshi will examine your mouth to make sure that an undiagnosed dental condition isn’t responsible for your gum disease.

When it comes to gum disease, prevention is the best form of treatment. Some things you can do at home are to brush your teeth twice daily with fluoride toothpaste, floss after meals, and use antiseptic mouthwash. Coming in for your bi-annual dental check-ups with Smiles of Elgin Dental Care is also important. This gives us the opportunity to detect gum disease before it causes long-term damage.