Curing Gum Disease

No one wants to lose their teeth. If your teeth and gums are not properly cared for, though, there is a reasonable chance that your gums will become infected. From there, if they are not properly treated, they can recede.

Bone tissue that helps to hold your teeth in place can also be damaged. Over time, your teeth can become loose and begin to fall out. This happens because of periodontal disease—and it can be prevented if you catch it early.

What Is Periodontal Disease?

Periodontal disease (also called gum disease) is caused by bacteria accumulating at and below the gum line. This causes inflammation in the gums and the body begins to destroy bone in an attempt to remove the bacteria.

Over time, the disease can worsen, damaging bone, gum tissue and causing inflammation in the body which can put you at greater risk for things like heart disease, stroke, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes and a growing list of other inflammatory based diseases.

What to Look For

In order to stop periodontal disease from advancing, it’s important to understand what to look for. There are certain signs of periodontal disease that are easy to spot, and will alert you that it is time to go to the dentist.

Some of these signs include:
Bleeding Gums
Red or Discolored Gums
Swollen Gums
Tender Gums
Loose Teeth
Receding Gum Lines
Bad Breath

If you notice some or all of these symptoms, you may have gum disease. Visit your dentist for a checkup and cleaning in order to determine the source of the symptoms, and to have any bacteria removed.

Curing Periodontal Disease

There are various solutions for treating gum disease—depending on the severity of the disease. However there is no cure for it, rather it can only be managed. Different stages of periodontal disease will require different treatments.

Here are some of the most common treatments for
periodontal disease:

General Cleaning and At-Home Care

A general cleaning is what you undergo when you visit your general dentist for a checkup and cleaning. If gingivitis is in its early stages, you may not even have noticed it—but your dentist will. Your dentist will clean your teeth, and ensure any bacteria is cleared away. From there, you
just need to make sure to take care of your teeth at home.

Scaling and Root Planing

For periodontal disease, your dentist and hygienist will suggest a deep cleaning (also known as a scaling and root planing). This procedure is more in-depth than a regular cleaning, and will involve your teeth being cleaned below the gum line to remove tartar, plaque, and diseased gum tissue.

Pocket Reduction

Your dentist may notice after a deep cleaning that your pockets are not fitting properly around your teeth. If this is the case, they may perform a pocket reduction surgery to encourage the gums to reattach properly to the teeth.

Gum Grafts

Gum grafts may be performed if the periodontal disease has caused the gums to recede too far. This process involves the grafting of tissue from your palate in order to cover the roots of a tooth or teeth.

Avoiding Gum Disease

The best treatment for gum disease is to make routine visits to your dentist and hygienist. Make sure to brush, floss and rinse at least twice a day to help to ward off gum disease.

For more information on dental checkups and periodontal disease consider contacting Baer Dental Designs today.

If you'd like to read further on Gum Disease, here's some information on symptoms to look for.