
Gum Disease | Woodshore Family Dentistry
Gum disease is a chronic condition caused by bacterial infection Please continue reading for a detailed discussion of gum infection symptoms and gum infection treatment.
Gum Disease
Gum disease is one of the most common diseases for the teeth in which your gum are infected by bacteria. Gum disease symptoms like inflamed gums, sensitive gums that bleed easily, swollen gums, or persistent bad breath are indications that you should seek gum disease treatment immediately. Gum disease is a chronic condition, which means that it gradually gets worse over time. At first, gum disease symptoms will be mild like a little toothache, soreness, or bad breath. But, over time, gum disease symptoms get worse till there’s a very real risk of tooth and bone loss. Please continue reading for a detailed discussion of gum infection symptoms and gum infection treatment.
Stages of Gum Disease
Gum disease progresses in two stages — gingivitis and periodontitis. The following is a brief description of gum infection symptoms at these stages.
Gingivitis Disease
Gingivitis is the initial stage in which you experience minor inflammation around the soft tissues in your gums and teeth. Your gums may also be red and they may bleed while brushing. This means the bacterial infection has spread to your gums and it’s fairly easy to treat.
Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease, also known as periodontitis, is the stage in which the infection spreads beyond the gums and to the bone underneath. When this happens, you can suffer from bone loss, which can eventually lead to the loss of tooth. Periodontal treatment is a little more difficult and you should get it treated immediately in order to avoid serious procedures like root canals or osseous surgery.
What are the Causes of Gum Disease?
The primary root cause of gum disease is weak oral health. This may mean many things. Perhaps you don’t brush and floss your teeth well enough, which allows food particles to remain stuck between your teeth. Even if you do follow ideal oral health practices, you may still suffer from gum disease if you don’t go for regular dental deep cleaning appointments. No matter how well you maintain personal oral hygiene, you can’t get rid of all the food particles in your mouth. Over time, these food particles can turn into plaque and tartar, which can lead to bacterial infection. Professional teeth cleaning is a procedure in which the dental hygienist removes all of the accumulated plaque and tartar to restore your dental health. If you avoid it, you can get gum disease.
Periodontal Disease Treatment
Professional cleaning, also known as dental deep cleaning, is the primary method by which to treat gum disease or periodontal disease. This is an extremely simple and minimally-invasive procedure that can be conducted by either the dentist or dental hygienist. The dentist simply cleans your teeth and removes all of the accumulated plaque and tartar and restores your oral health. The following are the steps involved in periodontal disease treatment.
Initial Consultation
You have to consult your dentist the moment you identify any of the aforementioned gum infection symptoms. The dentist will physically examine your teeth and run x-ray scans. This will allow them to gauge the spread of gum infection and come up with a treatment plan.
Scaling
Scaling is a basic step in gum infection treatment. The dental hygienist uses a scalar device to scrape off the plaque and tartar that’s accumulated on your teeth or under the gum line. The dentist will remove all of the plaque and tartar from the deepest recesses of your mouth that you can’t reach on your own.
Root Planing
Root planing is a periodontal treatment and you’ll only need it if the gum infection has spread below the gum line and there’s a pocket of space between your gums and the roots of your teeth. The dental hygienist will use a device to smoothen the root’s surface, remove all of the plaque and tartar, and attach the gums to your teeth again.
Cleaning and Rinsing
After the primary scaling and root planing periodontal treatment are done, the dental hygienist will simply restore your oral health by brushing and rinsing your mouth. The process will include the following steps:
- The dentist will use an abrasive toothpaste and an electric toothbrush for your teeth. The toothpaste will be abrasive so it will thoroughly scrub the surface of your teeth. However, you should avoid using it too frequently.
- The dental hygienist will also floss your teeth and teach you how to floss your own teeth.
- You’ll be asked to rinse your mouth with a fluoride solution that will kill all the bacteria.
- Finally, the dental hygienist will apply a fluoride gel on the surface of your teeth and ask you to wear a mouthpiece. This will seal the fluoride gel on your teeth and protect it from bacterial decay for a few months.
How to Prevent Gum Disease?
Gum infection and periodontal disease are extremely easy to prevent if you simply follow standard oral hygiene practices:
- Brush your teeth at least twice a day and be sure to use an effective toothpaste.
- Floss between all of your teeth to remove all food particles.
- Rinse your mouth once a day with an antibacterial mouthwash.
- Regularly go for your dental professional cleaning appointments, at least once every 3 to 6 months.
- If you notice any gum infection symptoms — even mild ones — visit your dentist immediately before it progresses.
PATIENT TESTIMONIALS
This place is great! Everyone is so kind and very professional. The dentist is awesome also. He takes the time to listen and gives you all the options with no pressure. They are also great with kids here. My 10 and 3 year old also do well when they come here. I highly recommend this place for anyone who wants great care for their teeth.
Laura H.
The entire office is very friendly. They go out of their way to make you feel comfortable. I really appreciated the extra time each Doctor took to review my medical history. Very gentle, kind and confident dental care.
Paula H.
I can’t say enough about my experience at this dental office! The entire staff was very friendly, from the second I walked in to the time I walked out. The doctor took the time to explain all that was going on, and he was very gentle in his approach which is what I like. Highly recommend this place!
Shaan
Me and my wife had been looking for a new dentist and we finally found them. This group of people are great. Extremely courteous and good at what they do. I couldn’t be more pleased with our new dentists and would highly recommend them to anyone.
Paul S.
The staff was so friendly and helpful. You can tell they really care about their patients and love what they do. They all made the experience really easy & comfortable. Highly recommend!
Kurstie P.
Hadn’t been to the dentist in 3 years because I just didn’t like it… tried this one out. Very kind and professional staff, friendly, outgoing, made me feel welcome. Definitely would recommend this dentist
Meena D.
The office is very clean and my daughter loved the tv in the ceiling to watch while her work was being done. Thanks again to the staff and doctor for making her feel comfortable.
Michael J.
Great customer service from check in to check out! It was my daughter’s first dental appointment and the staff made her very comfortable!
Santanna W.
The staff was very welcoming and friendly! Dr. Pattni explained my plan thoroughly and made sure I was comfortable during my treatment which I really appreciated. They also perform orthodontic work at affordable prices which is great because now I only have to go to one office for all of my dental needs. Not to mention the decor, ambiance, and state-of-the-art equipment is truly exceptional! Will definitely be coming back!
Anjani P.
Schedule your Gum Infection Treatment
At Woodshore Family Dentistry, we provide the best gum infection treatment available. We use the least invasive treatment methods to remove all accumulated plaque and tartar and treat the damage caused by gum infection. For more information, please schedule your gum infection treatment.