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Gum disease is one of the most common health conditions out there. In fact, approximately half of adults over the age of 30 are suffering from gum disease at some severity. Most of the time, patients learn that they have this condition during their routine dental checkups. However, there could be a new, at-home gingivitis testing option coming to the market soon! Continue reading to learn what that could look like and more about gum disease.
How Would an At-Home Gingivitis Kit Work?
A team of engineers at the University of Cincinnati has developed a new, at-home testing kit that can detect gingivitis! The test is still in development at this time, but it uses a saliva sample to detect the presence of endotoxins. This type of toxin is produced by the bacteria that cause gingivitis. The tests are currently designed to detect the presence and quantity of P. gingivalis lipopolysaccharides. The team now plans to work on both increasing the test sensitivity as well as looking for other lipopolysaccharides that could be identified in saliva to provide diagnostic testing for other conditions.
Why Is an Early Diagnosis Important for Gum Disease?
Getting an early diagnosis and treating gum disease right away is crucial to maintaining the health of your smile. There are two different types of gum disease:
- Gingivitis: This is the earliest stage of gum disease. It can usually be reversed by improving your dental hygiene routine and seeing your dentist for regular cleanings and checkups.
- Periodontitis: This is the more advanced stage of gum disease. At this point, it can only be managed – not cured. However, management is necessary to prevent further infection and serious complications, like tooth loss.
When caught in its initial stages of gingivitis, gum disease is much easier to treat, reducing the chances of long-term damage to your teeth and gums. If left untreated, gum disease can become severe, leading to a variety of further issues, some being irreversible!
How Can At-Home Gingivitis Testing Kits Improve Dentistry?
While it is recommended that you see the dentist every six months for regular cleanings and checkups, only 65% of adults over the age of 18 visited the dentist in 2022. By having an at-home testing kit available, the people who are skipping their dental visits can also become informed about their gum health. When testing positive for gingivitis, this is a wake-up call to seek treatment before there’s no turning back.
Gum disease is incredibly common, and with at-home gingivitis testing kits potentially available in the future, there will be more resources for people to work towards a healthy smile!
About the Practice
At Brush Dental, Dr. John Kuan and Dr. Christopher Lam are working together to serve patients in Royse City. With their combined experience and expertise, patients can get pretty much anything they need under one roof. If you think that you may have gum disease, they would be happy to help. For more information on gum disease or to schedule an appointment, visit their website or call (469) 723-4000.
