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. The more you know, the better chance you will have of recognizing symptoms and knowing it is time to pick up the phone and schedule your next dental visit.

Gum Disease True-Or-False Quiz

  1. Gum disease is always reversible
  2. You may need a periodontist to treat your gum disease
  3. Symptoms of gum disease only include swollen gums
  4. This problem is uncomfortable but will not cause any severe long-term damage
  5. We can improve damage with a variety of restorative treatments

Quiz Answers

  1. False. When we catch your gum disease in its earliest stages – also known as gingivitis – we can often remove the plaque from beneath your gumline and may offer special mouthwash to address the bacteria. This will allow your gum tissue to reattach to your teeth. However, when the disease has progressed into periodontal disease, we can only treat but not reverse the problem, which means you will require long-term care.
  2. True. A periodontist is a specialist who treats the supportive tissues surrounding your teeth, including your gums, ligaments, and jawbone. Because an existing infection threatens the health of these tissues, and may quickly cause serious damage, a specialist is often necessary in achieving successful improvement.
  3. False. Swollen gums do typically accompany gum illness. However, this symptom may also be joined by red gums, tender gums, teeth that feel loose, bad breath, new spaces between teeth, gums that bleed, and receding gums.
  4. False. While gum disease may present discomfort, you may also experience a variety of long-term side effects that can cause significant damage. You may experience tooth loss, gum recession, gum tissue damage, jawbone deterioration, and damage to other tissues like ligaments.
  5. True. Once we treat the disease, remove the plaque, and treat the infection, we may restore problems like gum recession with gum surgery, and tooth loss with dental prosthetics.

SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH YOUR RIVERSIDE DENTISTS:

Interested in receiving comprehensive dental care? Then contact Dental Associates of Riverside at (951) 369-1001 today. Our family dentist office serves patients throughout Riverside County, including Corona, Temecula, and Moreno Valley.