When you get a cavity, it usually isn’t the end of the world. As long as you get yourself to the dentist for a filling and an appropriate treatment, you can rid your mouth of the decay and prevent the risk of spreading harmful diseases to the rest of your body.

Can a Cavity Turn Into Gum Disease?

However, a cavity that’s left untreated could turn into something dangerous, and it will only worsen over time. Many of our patients experience excessive tooth pain that eventually leads to pain in the gums and other parts of the mouth. This begs the question: Can a cavity turn into gum disease? Today, your trusted periodontist in Wilshire in Los Angeles will talk about the dangers of tooth decay and point out some effective ways to prevent the development of gum disease.

Tooth Decay and Cavities

Understanding what causes cavities and how they form can make it easier for you to prevent them from developing at all. Tooth decay comes from the excess buildup of bacteria, plaque, and other harmful substances. Bacteria can come from food, beverages, and even your breath over time. By brushing your teeth every day, you are wiping away layers of bacteria that would otherwise harden and turn into decay.

Bacteria that makes its way inside of your tooth creates a pocket of decay, known as a cavity. Your dentist can treat this cavity by scooping out the decayed material and replacing it with a composite filling. Regular dental checks can help you catch cavities while they are still small before they develop into more serious forms of decay.

How Decay Leads to Gum Disease

Like many other diseases, gum disease develops in stages. The first stage, gingivitis, is marked by pink gums and irritated flesh around the teeth. Gingivitis is treatable and you can start taking proactive measures to reduce the spread of bacteria in your mouth.

If tooth decay still goes untreated, gum disease may develop into a more serious stage that is much harder to treat. This can have long-lasting effects on your oral health, leading to tooth loss, gum damage, and the risk of a fatal infection.

Know the Symptoms of Gum Disease

If you are worried that you might be dealing with spreading decay in your mouth and you want to take the steps to prevent gum disease, the first thing you can do is identify your symptoms. Accordingly, this will make it easier for dentists to recommend the most appropriate treatment.

Common symptoms of gum disease include:

• Loose or missing teeth
• Constantly bleeding gums
• Receding or lifting gums
• Gaps between the tums and your teeth
• Bad breath that won’t go away no matter how often you brush your teeth
• Sensitive, irritated, or swollen gums

The earlier you can identify these symptoms and seek appropriate help, the easier it will be to get the appropriate treatment that can reverse these negative effects.

Prevent Risk Factors

Similarly, being able to recognize and avoid common risk factors for gum disease will help you avoid reaching the terminal stages of this condition. Still, cavities are one of the biggest risk factors for gum disease, so it’s important to get in touch with your dentist as soon as you experience any pain.

Your local pros will likely recommend that you commit to a daily oral hygiene routine to keep bacteria at bay. Still, brushing and flossing daily can also help you recognize tooth pain as quickly as it occurs. If you are worried that you do have a cavity or you are experiencing gum disease, you can seek an in-office treatment with your local pros.

Discover proactive, personalized, and expert gum disease treatment options with LA Wilshire Periodontics today!