Gum treatment in Gilbert

What Is Periodontal Disease?

Periodontal, or gum, disease is an infection or inflammation of the gums which can spread to the ligaments and bone if it progresses and causes the gums to pull away from the teeth. The disease begins with gingivitis and may advance without treatment. Risk factors for gum disease include poor oral hygiene, smoking, diabetes and heredity. Your chances of developing gum disease increase with age; the CDC reports that more than 70 percent of people over age 65 have the disease.

What Causes Gingivitis?

Gingivitis is caused by plaque buildup which hardens into calculus, or tartar. Brushing and flossing remove plaque, which is the sticky film you feel on your teeth after eating and drinking. If you don't brush frequently, the plaque hardens and only a dentist or dental hygienist can scrape it off by using special instruments. Both plaque and tartar contain bacteria, which can inflame your gums if allowed to remain on your teeth, causing gingivitis.

What Gum Disease Symptoms Should I Watch For?

If you can spot the signs of gingivitis early, it's possible to get gingivitis treatment and possibly prevent the disease from progressing. Look out for:

• Bright red gums
• Swollen gums
• Gums that bleed easily when you brush your teeth

If you notice any of these early gingivitis symptoms, contact our office to schedule treatment resulting in an effective gingivitis cure.

What Signs of Gum Disease Do Dentists Look For?

When examining your teeth and gums, dentists look for signs of gingivitis and these gum disease symptoms:

• Pockets of inflammation where your teeth and gums meet
• Persistent bad breath
• Loose teeth
• Visible pus
• Receding gums
• Bleeding gums
• Gums pulling away from the teeth

It's vital to start gum disease treatment right away as the eventual result can be tooth loss and an increased risk of cardiovascular issues. Gum disease also increases your risk of developing diabetes and respiratory diseases.

What Are the Gum Disease Stages?

Gingivitis

Gingivitis is due to plaque deposits left on teeth, which harden into tartar. The bacteria in the plaque and tartar can irritate gums, making them red and swollen. Fortunately, there’s an easy gingivitis cure that can prevent gingivitis from progressing to periodontitis. Gingivitis doesn’t always progress to periodontal disease, but everyone who has periodontitis started with gingivitis. A gingivitis cure is a sure way to stop the progression.

Periodontitis

Periodontitis causes your gums to pull away, or recede, from your teeth. Pockets form between the teeth and gums which contain harmful bacteria. As the disease progresses, you'll most likely begin to feel pain and your teeth may become loose. We treat gum disease in Gilbert with the goal of keeping your gum disease from turning into advanced periodontitis and doing permanent damage.

Advanced Periodontitis

With advanced periodontitis, the bone and tissue keeping your teeth in place start to deteriorate. You'll have severe bad breath and a foul taste in your mouth, pain when you chew and your teeth will likely fall out.

Is There a Gingivitis Cure?

Fortunately, gingivitis is curable. Gingivitis treatment is non-invasive and quite effective. Your dentist will suggest a professional cleaning to remove plaque and tartar and show you how to brush your teeth better at home so plaque won’t accumulate at the gumline. If you notice gingivitis symptoms, please call us now to schedule an exam and gingivitis treatment. We look forward to stopping your gum disease before it does any permanent damage.

How Do Dentists Treat Periodontal Disease?

The types of treatment our dentist provides will vary according to the severity of your gum disease. Reversing gum disease is easier if all you have are gingivitis symptoms. If you have periodontitis, your treatment may include a deep cleaning and medication to control the infection. A dental hygienist will perform a deep cleaning, or scaling and root planing, to remove tartar below the gumline and make the root smooth so it's less likely to trap bacteria. With advanced gum disease, our dentist may suggest flap surgery and/or bone or tissue grafts. The extent of gum disease varies among our patients and so does the level of treatment success.

Is There a Gum Disease Cure?

Reversing gum disease is possible if you see a dentist at the first signs of gingivitis. Our dentist will work to get rid of the infection and prevent further damage. Successful treatment depends on how much damage the disease has done. Good oral care goes along with any treatment our dentist suggests. Quitting smoking will also make treatment more effective.

If you need treatment for gum disease in Gilbert, please contact us to schedule an appointment.