Cavities may be among the more well-known dental problems that you may experience, but gum disease is another common issue that many patients have a remarkably poor understanding about. This can result in them making critical errors in treating gum disease, which can result in the loss of teeth and numerous other severe issues. By having a couple of common gum disease misconceptions refuted, it will be easier for you to protect your smile from the ravages of this dental condition. 

Myth: It Is Easy To Tell Whether You Have Gum Disease

A particularly common misconception is that it will be easy to tell whether or not you are being afflicted with this condition, but gum disease may not be readily noticeable to the patient until it has become very severe. Typically, patients will first notice this condition when their gums start to regularly bleed, swell or even start peeling away. 

Once you start noticing these symptoms, it is essential for you to have the gums treated as quickly as possible. These symptoms indicate the presence of advanced gum disease, and if you do not have this condition treated, you may be at risk of losing some of your teeth to this condition. 

Myth: Gum Disease Is Always Easily Treated With Antibiotics

There is a common idea that your dentist will simply prescribe a strong mouthwash to use when you are experiencing these symptoms. While this can be an effective treatment for gum disease that has been diagnosed early, the same may not be said for advanced gum disease. 

When the gums have suffered extensive damage from this disease, it may be essential for you to undergo surgery to correct the damage. This will often require a couple of different procedures because the dentist will need to remove all of the diseased gums. Once this tissue has been removed, a second procedure will be done where gum grafts are installed. These grafts are often taken from the top of the mouth, and they are used to restore your natural gum line. Without this procedure, your teeth may be more likely to decay or suffer injury because they are not being protected by the gums. 

Understanding gum disease is essential if you are needing to fight this condition. By understanding that the symptoms may not be readily noticeable to you and that advanced gum disease may require surgery to correct, you can protect your mouth from the worst consequences of this disease.  

To learn more, visit a website like www.hcdentistry.com.