{"id":362,"date":"2019-09-07T20:27:58","date_gmt":"2019-09-07T20:27:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.waterburysmiles.com\/blog\/?p=362"},"modified":"2019-10-28T20:30:55","modified_gmt":"2019-10-28T20:30:55","slug":"gum-disease-in-waterbury-how-it-affects-your-overall-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.waterburysmiles.com\/blog\/2019\/09\/gum-disease-in-waterbury-how-it-affects-your-overall-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Find Out How Gum Disease Can Affect More Than Just Your Mouth"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Gum disease in\nWaterbury<\/a> is more than just a problem for your teeth and gums. While it may\nappear in the form of red, puffy, inflamed, and even bleeding gums, if left\nuntreated it can pose a serious threat to your overall health. The mouth and\nbody are closely connected, so if problems exist in the mouth, inevitably, they\nwill begin to show in other areas, such as your brain or heart. Learn more\nabout this common disease and how it can lead to serious, and even, fatal\nconsequences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

What Are the Stages of Gum Disease?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are two stages of gum disease: gingivitis and\nperiodontitis. Some dentists believe there are actually three stages with the\nthird being a more advanced version of periodontitis. Either way, all forms of\ngum disease, which is also known as periodontal disease, range from mild to\nsevere, and what can start as minor can quickly advance into something much\nmore serious. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The early stage of gum disease is known as gingivitis. This\ncauses gums to be red or puffy and may bleed a little bit when brushing and flossing.\nIf treated in this stage, your dentist can thoroughly clean and remove any\nplaque and tartar buildup before you go home and begin to diligently practice\ngood oral hygiene habits. If this is done successfully, you can reverse the\ngingivitis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second stage is periodontitis, and this is what can\nultimately lead to tooth and bone loss. If gingivitis isn\u2019t caught early enough\nand it escalates into periodontitis, your gums will be red, inflamed, bleeding,\nand over time, may begin to loosen. To try and maintain the integrity of your\nsmile, it will be suggested that you undergo periodontal therapy in Waterbury. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This process will include a \u201cdeep cleaning,\u201d which is also\nreferred to as scaling and root planing. During this procedure, your dental\nteam will remove plaque and tartar from above and below the gum line, as well\nas smooth out the tooth\u2019s root, so it will reattach to the soft tissues. This\nprocess can take several visits to the dentist office, so you can expect to be\nseeing your dentist much more often. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Can Happen if Gum Disease is Left Untreated?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Apart from potential tooth and bone loss, there are many\ncomplications that can be attributed to gum disease, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n