Gum disease, more formally known as periodontal disease, can be damaging to your oral health. Thankfully, there are dental procedures available to either reverse or halt it. Early detection is key. So, here’s everything you need to know about treating gum disease.
What is Gum Disease?
Gum disease is an infection of the soft gum tissues that surround your teeth and is typically caused by poor brushing or flossing habits. Not sticking to a good oral hygiene routine allows build up of bacteria on the teeth – which can lead to gum disease. And, when the integrity of your gums is jeopardized, so are other areas in your mouth.
There are four stages of gum disease. As you move through each stage, the disease becomes more advanced - and the damage caused to the gums, teeth, and bone structure becomes more extensive.
Stage 1: Gingivitis
Stage 2: Slight Periodontal Disease
Stage 3: Moderate Periodontal Disease
Stage 4: Advanced Periodontal Disease
Signs You May Have Gum Disease
Knowing what to look for when it comes to gum disease can give you a great opportunity to seek treatment sooner rather than later. Keep an eye out for these signs:
- Bleeding gums
- Tender or inflamed gums
- Receding gums
- Loose teeth
- Sensitive teeth
- Bad breath
There are many different signs that individuals may have that could signal that something is wrong. For instance, their teeth may seem to be growing in size (because the gums are receding) or they may occasionally see pink in the sink when they spit after brushing. Most of the time these things get dismissed without a second thought.
Regular visits to the dentist allow the gum disease to be spotted and treated as soon as possible - leaving you with the best results. Let’s take a look at what the treatment may look like.
Treatment For Gum Disease
One of the most effective treatments for gum disease is scaling and root planing. This two–part process can be viewed as a deep cleaning for your gums.
Scaling is the first part of the non-surgical procedure and it works to clear out the calculus and plaque found at the gum line and below it. As it builds up over time, it forms pockets just below the gumline. But thanks to special dental tools, scaling is used to clear them out.
Once the first phase is complete, it’s on to root planing. This is the part of the procedure that helps smooth out the roots of your teeth so that the gums are able to heal and reattach themselves.
While you may not be able to reverse the damage that has been caused by gum disease, scaling and root planing has become a proven treatment. Of course, maintaining a good oral hygiene regimen as well as keeping your routine dental appointments can also play a big role in managing gum disease.
At Paramount Dental Arts we strive to give our patients access to the best and most advanced treatments when it comes to managing gum disease. To learn more or to get started, contact us today at 973-777-1772. Or, request an appointment online.