If you’ve noticed redness, swelling, or bleeding in your gums lately, it may be gum disease.
Ignoring those symptoms can have serious consequences, like tooth loss or impacts on overall health. The good news is that, with early treatment from knowledgeable dentists like us, gum disease is very treatable.
Unhealthy gums affect your smile and can lead to tooth loss and systemic health issues if left untreated.
Causes and Types of Gum Disease
Gum disease occurs when plaque – a sticky film containing bacteria – builds up on your teeth. There are two main types of gum disease: gingivitis and periodontitis.
- Gingivitis is an early and reversible form of gum disease. It causes red, swollen gums that may bleed easily when brushing or flossing. This is due to a bacterial infection caused by plaque buildup. Daily brushing and flossing can usually treat gingivitis.
- When gingivitis is left untreated, periodontitis is a more severe gum disease. It involves inflammation and infection of the tissues and bones supporting the teeth.
As the disease progresses, the gums pull away from the root surfaces of the teeth, forming spaces called pockets that become infected. The body’s immune system fights bacteria and breaks down gum and bone tissue. Without treatment, periodontitis can cause tooth loss.
Other risk factors can also increase susceptibility to gum disease or worsen it once present. For example, smoking is a significant risk factor, as it diminishes blood flow to the gums and impacts healing. Poorly controlled diabetes also makes gum infections more likely and more challenging to treat. With prompt treatment and ongoing prevention, the progression of gum disease can be halted.
Risks and Complications of Untreated Gum Disease
Allowing gum disease to progress without treatment can lead to numerous oral health problems and systemic complications.
As gums recede due to periodontitis, pockets become infected and fill with bacteria. This causes inflammation and damage to the gums and the bone structures supporting teeth. As bone and connective tissues are destroyed, teeth become loose and can be lost.
In addition, the bacteria and inflammation associated with untreated gum disease can spread to the bloodstream. This has been linked to increased risk for several systemic severe conditions, including heart disease, stroke, respiratory disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and diabetes complications.
Pregnant women with gum disease are also at higher risk for preterm birth and low birth weight babies. For patients with implants or other restorations, progressive gum disease can lead to the failure of these treatments.
The message is clear: untreated gum disease can have wide-ranging oral health and whole-body effects. Catching it early and controlling it with professional treatment can help minimize these risks.
Gum Disease Diagnosis
Spotting gum disease early is critical to successful treatment. At East Village Dental, our dentists have the training and tools to diagnose the presence and extent of gum disease accurately.
Our dentists and dental hygienists check for classic symptoms like receding gums, loose teeth, and excessive plaque buildup along the gum line during a gum disease evaluation. We also review your medical history and screen for poor oral hygiene habits that raise your risk for gum infections.
Advanced diagnostic tools like periodontal probes allow us to measure any loss of connective tissue and bone supporting the teeth and identify unwanted soft tissue used in gum pockets. This careful diagnosis is critical for effective gum disease treatment. For someone or more teeth, the unmistakable signs we look for include:
- Gum recession – When the margin of gum tissue pulls away from the teeth, it leaves the tooth roots vulnerable and allows bacteria to collect.
- Bone loss – We may take dental x-rays to check for deterioration of the bone-supporting teeth. This bone loss occurs as the infection spreads.
- Loose teeth – Advanced gum disease can destroy so much bone and connective tissue that teeth become loose or drift out of position.
We also evaluate for more subtle signs of gingivitis, such as puffy, red gums that bleed with brushing or flossing. Using advanced diagnostic technology, we can detect even minute levels of inflammation. The earlier gum disease is detected, the better the treatment prognosis.
Advanced diagnostic tools, such as periodontal probes, allow us to measure any loss of connective tissue and bone supporting the teeth. This careful diagnosis is key to effective gum disease treatment.
Nonsurgical treatments include deep cleanings like scaling and root planing to remove plaque and tartar above and below the gumline. We may also prescribe antibiotic mouth rinses to control bacteria and reduce inflammation. Flap surgery allows better access to clear plaque from beneath the gums for more advanced cases.
Tissue-stimulating proteins can help regrow lost bone. Bone and gum grafts, using your own gum and bone graft(your own bone or synthetic bone), can regenerate lost gum and bone tissue. Your dentist or periodontist will determine the ideal options for treating your gum disease and restoring your gums and teeth health.
Rest assured; our knowledgeable dentists will perform a thorough gum evaluation and diagnose any issues accurately so treatment can begin immediately. Our goal is to catch problems early and prevent gum disease from advancing.
Preventive Gum Disease Care
The best way to avoid gum disease is to prevent it in the first place. East Village Dental offers a range of preventive care to help keep your gums in top health.
Regular professional cleanings are essential for removing disease-causing dental plaque from places your toothbrush can’t reach. We recommend professional cleanings every six months to protect your gum health. Our hygienists will also show you proper brushing and flossing techniques daily at home.
Quitting smoking can significantly improve your gum health since smoking increases inflammation and impedes healing. Be sure to talk to your dentist about smoking cessation options.
Finally, work closely with your medical doctor to keep diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic health conditions under optimal control. Properly managing these diseases reduces your susceptibility to gum infections.
With diligent daily good oral hygiene care, professional cleanings, and working to improve overall health, you can keep gum disease at bay and enjoy a healthy smile for life. We’re here to help you achieve excellent preventive gum care.
Gum Disease Treatments
If gum disease is detected, prompt treatment is critical to halting its progression. East Village Dental offers a range of therapies to get diseased gums back to health.
Nonsurgical treatments include deep cleanings like scaling to remove plaque and tartar above and below the gum line. We may also prescribe antibiotic mouth rinses to control bacteria and reduce inflammation. For more advanced cases, flap surgery allows our gum specialists to clear plaque from beneath the gums more easily.
Tissue-stimulating proteins can help regrow lost bone. Bone grafts using your or synthetic bone can regenerate lost gum and bone tissue. Your dentist or periodontist will determine the ideal options for treating your gum disease and restoring health to your gums, donated bone, and teeth.
Flap surgery involves lifting back the gums to clear out plaque and tartar from beneath them. Bone and tissue grafts can regenerate lost gum and bone tissues. Laser therapies can remove diseased gum tissues while stimulating healing.
The specific surgical treatments recommended will depend on factors like the type and severity of your gum disease. With regular dental visits for monitoring and maintenance, surgical treatment is sometimes unnecessary. Our experienced dentists will determine the ideal treatment approaches to stabilize your gum health.
Post-Treatment Care for Gum Health
After treatment, excellent at-home oral hygiene is vital to treating periodontal disease. Brushing thoroughly with fluoride toothpaste and flossing daily keep plaque in check and prevent reinfection.
We also monitor your periodontal health closely with regular dental cleanings and can detect any more severe periodontitis recurrence early before significant bone or tooth loss ever to treat gum disease recurs. With prompt treatment and continuing care, most patients achieve complete periodontal disease remission and excellent gum health over the long term.
Brushing twice daily and flossing daily to keep plaque in check and prevent reinfection is vital. We may also recommend using a soft-bristled toothbrush and antimicrobial mouthwash.
Visiting us for professional cleanings every 3-4 months enables us to monitor your gum health and ensure that your periodontal disease remains stable. We can provide periodontal disease maintenance cleanings tailored to your specific needs.
Other tips for maintaining your treatment gains include eating a balanced, nutrient-rich diet, quitting smoking, and managing stress. Stay vigilant with daily dental care and keep all recommended dental visits. Detecting reinfection early is critical to successful long-term management.
Long-Term Outlook with Proper Gum Disease Treatment
The key to optimal long-term gum health is seeking treatment at the earliest signs of disease. When caught quickly, gum disease can often be reversed.
With professional deep cleanings, plaque and tartar that cause infection, inflammation, and dry mouth can be removed, allowing the gum’s healthy bone to heal. Bone grafting and procedures can also regenerate lost gum and bone tissues if needed.
Combining treatment with excellent at-home oral hygiene and ongoing dental visits, most patients can attain complete disease remission, tissue regeneration of existing bone, total bone growth, and stabilization. While some gum recession or bone loss may be permanent, diligent care can prevent significant future damage.
As your trusted dental providers, we will work closely with you for the long run. Through regular monitoring and periodontal maintenance care, we can catch any recurrence early before it escalates. Working together can control gum disease and help you enjoy lifetime gum health.
The bottom line?
Your gum prognosis is excellent, with early intervention and continuing care. We are here to help you every step of the way. Don’t wait to have your gums evaluated—at the first sign of trouble, contact us to get the treatments and preventive care tailored to your needs.
Keep Your Gums Healthy with East Village Dental
Gum disease is a common oral health issue that can have severe consequences if left untreated. The condition is caused by plaque buildup along the gum line, leading to infection and inflammation. Symptoms include red, swollen gums that bleed easily.
Gum disease and mild periodontitis can often be prevented through regular professional cleanings and proper daily brushing and flossing. However, if signs of gingivitis or advanced periodontitis occur, prompt professional treatment is essential.
At East Village Dental, we have the training and expertise to provide accurate gum disease diagnosis and effective treatment. We can help restore diseased gums to health with a combination of deep cleanings, medication, and expert dental care. We also educate our patients on maintaining gum health through ongoing daily good oral hygiene practices and regular dental visits.
Don’t wait if you notice a possible gum infection. Contact East Village Dental today or call (403) 263-9014 to schedule a gum evaluation. We are here to help get your smile looking and feeling its best.