Gum Disease Treatment
When we think about our oral care and dental health, we often focus on getting a straight, brilliant smile with perfect white teeth. However, a Hollywood smile might not always be the best indicator of a truly healthy smile, because we neglect to remember one of the most important parts of the mouth: the gums!
Gum disease and gum health are often shrugged off as secondary to your dental health. However, in reality, gum disease is the number one contributor to adult tooth loss!
What Is Periodontal Disease?
Gum disease (also known as gingivitis), is caused when bacteria called plaque builds at the space where your gums and teeth meet. If left unchecked, this can cause sensitivity in the gums, irritation, inflammation, or develop into a serious infection known as periodontitis.
- Early Stages: In the early stages of periodontal disease, the infected gum tissue will begin to recede from the teeth, which will create small openings where even more harmful bacteria can hide.
It is common for excessive bleeding to occur when flossing or even brushing teeth at this stage.
- Moderate Gum Disease: If left untreated, periodontal disease will continue into its moderate stage. Many patients report incredible discomfort or pain around their teeth as their gums recede even further from their teeth. Other patients note their gums can bleed unprompted.
Even so, the most concerning health risks of the moderate stage is your teeth begin to lose support from your jawbone.
- Severe Periodontitis: When your teeth have begun to lose bone support, periodontal disease has progressed to its most advanced stages. The connective tissue between your gums, teeth, and bone are deteriorating, likely resulting in toothaches and pain.
The loss of the natural teeth are high at this stage, as well the chance of the inflammation from the gums spreading!
Possible Periodontitis? Know the Causes and Symptoms
Bacteria can be found inside even the healthiest mouths, though proper oral hygiene prevents this bacteria from building up and becoming harmful. The main cause of periodontal disease is a poor dental routine, such as poor brushing and flossing; but there are other factors to consider as well.
The following conditions or habits can put you at a higher risk for developing periodontitis:
- Tobacco usage.
- Type 2 diabetes.
- Obesity.
- Medication(s) that reduce or alter the flow of saliva.
- Poor nutrition, especially a deficiency in vitamin C.
A combination of any of the above causes can lead to the following symptoms. This may suggest that gingivitis has advanced to an infectious stage, meaning the threat of periodontal disease is imminent.
The most common periodontitis symptoms are:
- Gums that bleed when brushing or flossing.
- Bad breath.
- Receding gums.
- Tender or swollen gums.
- Buildup of plaque along the teeth.
- Pain or discomfort when chewing.
If you believe you might be suffering from periodontal disease, don’t worry! Our office can schedule a consultation to get your gums feeling great.
Treating Periodontitis With the Gentle Art of Dentistry
When it comes to gum disease treatment, our office has more than 30 years of practicing gentle and comfortable dentistry techniques.
We understand that our patients can be suffering from sensitivity, inflammation, and dental discomfort when dealing with periodontal disease. This is why we approach each treatment with your best health needs in mind to ensure both maximum comfort and curative results!
This will all begin with a consultation, where our dental team can access your oral care needs, any medical or medication concerns, and what your ideal smile may look like. From there, we can schedule a routine examination for signs of periodontitis.
In the case of periodontal disease being discovered, we may begin one or more treatments that can include the following procedures:
Professional Teeth Cleaning
Often associated with general dentistry, a routine of professional teeth cleanings can be a great gum disease treatment if periodontitis is in its early stages. This procedure allows a dental hygienist to remove tartar build-up in its early stages, a high-grade electric toothbrush and specialized toothpaste, as well as a fluoride treatment.
Teeth Scaling & Planing
Also known as a deep clean, this is arguably the most effective method against periodontal disease as it has saved many patient’s natural teeth. With this process, we begin with a local anesthetic for your comfort, before thoroughly removing excess plaque build-up at the base of your teeth (scaling).
With the plaque (being the source of the gum disease) being removed, we can begin the curative step known as planing. With a precision tool, we begin to softly smooth your tooth’s roots into a natural position, which will allow your gums to attach and heal with your teeth.
Call Our Office to Say Goodbye to Gum Disease!
There’s no need to live with sensitive gums or worry about chronic bad breath. You don’t even need to think twice about the increasingly serious health risks of gum disease when The Gentle Art of Dentistry is a call or click away!
