When most people think about their oral health, they focus on their teeth. However, gums also play a vital role in maintaining a healthy smile! Gums are the gateway to your oral and overall health, and it’s important to make sure that they don’t get placed on the backburner. If they do, the chances for gum disease increase exponentially. Here, we’ll talk more about what gum disease is, its signs, and available treatment options.
What Is Gum Disease?
Gum disease is a soft tissue infection that happens in stages. The first stage, gingivitis, is gum disease in its mildest form. This stage is often easily treatable and reversible. However, if left untreated, gingivitis can morph into full-blown gum disease, also known as periodontitis. Patients usually develop gum disease when they aren’t following a proper oral hygiene regimen and not flossing regularly. Bad bacteria build up and form plaque around the gumline and they burrow into pockets of the gums causing inflammation and infection to arise.
Most Common Signs of Gum Disease
Not sure what to look out for? Here’s a list of some of the most common symptoms of gum disease, so you can spot it and seek treatment as soon as possible! Some signs are:
- Bleeding & Tender Gums
- Loosening Teeth
- Pain When Chewing
- Persistent Bad Breath
- Receding Gum line
- Red or Swollen Gums
Gum Disease Treatments
If you find out you have gum disease, you may be wondering what your treatment options are. There are a variety of treatment options available for gum disease depending on what stage you’re in. For mild forms of gum disease, a deep cleaning (scaling and root planing) is an effective option. Deep cleanings scrape away any plaque or tartar build up and flush out gums’ pockets. After the teeth and gums are disinfected and bacteria-free, dentists can use a special tool to smooth out the tooth roots encouraging the gums to reattach to the tooth. An ARESTIN ® topical antibiotic can be used in congruence with scaling and root planing to ensure that the bad bacteria are taken care of and to promote gum rejuvenation. For more severe cases of periodontitis, laser gum therapy is a non-invasive way to stimulate the gums, kill off bacteria, and promote gum rejuvenation.
For more information on gum disease or to schedule an oral health consultation, please contact our office. We look forward to hearing from you!