Advanced periodontitis is a condition that can lead to loose teeth and bone loss and various unpleasant symptoms such as swelling and bad breath. Furthermore, gum disease can lead to loss of teeth.
Fortunately, there is hope—you can prevent additional damage and regain your smile with prompt periodontal disease treatment.
What is Gum Disease?
Periodontal disease is a condition that, left untreated, can lead to periodontitis and eventually tooth loss. People who suffer from gum disease end up losing as much as 30% of the bone that supports their teeth over time. According to the Journal of Periodontology, this leads to an additional 10% loss in tooth attachment.
Not only is periodontal disease uncomfortable, but it can also pose major health risks. Periodontitis has been linked with conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.
Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums caused by plaque buildup, poor oral hygiene, dry mouth, or smoking. Periodontitis is characterized by bone loss around the teeth. It can result in tooth sensitivity and eventually tooth loss if not treated.
Who’s Prone To Gum Disease?
Although periodontal disease is commonly associated with adults, getting periodontal treatment for early detection and prevention of periodontitis is vital. For children specifically, this type of treatment becomes even more essential. If periodontal disease is addressed promptly, periodontal treatment for kids can help control the disease.
What Are The Stages of Gum Disease?
Gum disease is a chronic bacterial infection, which affects the gums and the teeth. The stage of gum disease are:
- Early warning signs
People with early gum disease would have red, swollen, or bleeding gums. This is because bacteria have already started to damage your healthy tissue.
- Gum recession
The soft tissues around your teeth are pulled away from the tooth surface by chewing pressure and bacterial infection. Pockets could trap food debris between your teeth and your gum line.
- Periodontitis
The inflammation caused by the bacteria leads to bone loss, which can lead to tooth loss. Treatment for this stage includes scaling and root planing (also known as deep cleaning). It may also include antibiotics if the periodontitis is severe.
What Are Symptoms of Gum Disease?
The symptoms of gum disease are not always easy to spot at first; however, some signs include:
- Bleeding when brushing or flossing teeth
- Bad breath (halitosis)
- Red or swollen gums
- Receding gums on either side of the teeth
- Loose teeth
- Pain when chewing food
What Causes Gum Recession?
Genetics, aggressive hygiene, and tooth eruption can cause teeth to become loose or fall out. However, periodontitis is the leading cause of gum recession. Periodontitis damages the gums and jawbone, which eventually results in bone loss.
What Is The Treatment For Gum Disease?
The periodontal pockets around the teeth are cleaned with minimal damage to the surrounding tissues. Surgery will not be necessary if no infection or pus is present. If an infection is present, the dentist might recommend scaling and root planing (deep cleaning), a dental antibiotic, or antibiotics prescribed by a periodontist.
Bone grafting is also done to restructure and stimulate new bone growth. Grafting involves using bone granules in the affected area to generate new bone cells.
A periodontal disease specialist may recommend tissue grafting if you have gum recession. The procedure involves using tissue matter from the palate and attaching it to the gum tissue.
Surgery may also help correct a periodontal pocket of more than 5 millimeters. Periodontics uses surgery to remove existing gum tissue around the tooth and reattach it at a new position, closer to the tooth.
When periodontists recommend periodontal treatment, you must follow instructions carefully to achieve the best results.
To receive periodontal treatment, you should visit a dentist in Rockville regularly to check that your gums are healthy and free of disease while undergoing periodontal treatment.
How Can You Prevent Gum Infection?
Having a healthy oral hygiene routine can help prevent gum infection from happening – it may take up to six months for such an infection to occur, so practicing good oral hygiene is very important!
A healthy diet also plays a role in preventing gum infections: Studies have shown that calcium supplements, vitamin D, folic acid, and other such supplements can be beneficial in keeping periodontal disease away. Eating a diet rich in vegetables and fruits is also good for the mouth, as they aid in preventing periodontal disease.
Schedule An Appointment
Visit Montgomery Dental Associates & Implantology Center for more information about periodontal disease.