Are your gums sensitive or swollen? Do they bleed easily when you brush and floss your teeth and gums? These are the typical first signs of gingivitis, a common oral health issue we treat at Wayne Family Dentistry. Gingivitis is a mild form of gum disease, also called periodontal disease.
While gingivitis is not too serious, it can develop into a more serious form of gum disease called periodontitis. Wayne Family Dentistry treats every stage of gum disease for patients in Wayne, PA.
Treating gum inflammation and gum disease is an important restorative dentistry service we offer to restore smiles. Although gum disease is a very common dental problem, it can be highly damaging. If patients do not address their gum infection, they can experience gum recession and even permanent tooth loss.
Our professional dental team collaborates with patients to target their specific symptoms with the right dental solutions. Taking a comprehensive approach to treating gum infections helps prevent damage to the smile.
What Causes Periodontal Disease?
The primary cause of gum disease is a buildup of plaque and tartar on the teeth, especially along the gum line. Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that constantly forms on our teeth. When you fail to remove it with regular teeth brushing, plaque will harden into tartar. Tartar is very hard to remove from teeth.
Bacteria in plaque and tartar irritate the gums, causing the first signs of gum disease. Certain risk factors can also make gum disease worse or more likely to develop. These include:
- Poor oral hygiene
- Smoking or tobacco use
- Genetics
- Underlying health conditions, such as diabetes
- Certain medications that reduce saliva flow
- Hormonal changes, such as those occurring during pregnancy
- Poor nutrition and obesity
Stages of Gum Disease
There are three stages of gum disease. Each stage will progress into the next without proper gum disease treatment. In most cases, our patients do not even know they have gingivitis. This is why regular dental appointments are vital to your oral health.
A good majority of our patients do not know they have gum disease until the later stages. This is when the damage to the gums affects the teeth, bone, and gum tissues.
Gingivitis
Gingivitis is the early stage of gum disease. In most cases, your dentist can easily treat it. Your dentist can diagnose your gingivitis if you attend your regular dental appointment. They can treat it, and most patients recover from gingivitis.
Most people will only need a deep cleaning to remove bacteria, plaque, and tartar from their teeth and gums. We may also suggest using an antibacterial toothpaste or mouthwash.
Mild/Moderate Periodontitis
When gingivitis is left untreated, it can progress to a more severe form of gum disease called periodontitis. At this stage, the damage extends to the periodontium, the supporting structures of the teeth that include the tooth roots, bone, and gum tissues.
This is a serious stage of periodontal disease and requires treatment. To prevent more damage, your dentist will work to remove the bacteria causing your gum disease completely. We offer several treatments to help stop the progression of mild to moderate periodontitis.
Advanced Periodontitis
Left untreated, periodontitis will lead to advanced periodontitis. At this stage, irreversible damage to your teeth, bone, and gums has likely taken place. Patients with advanced periodontitis experience severe bone loss in the jawbone, severely receded gums, and tooth loss.
Treatment will likely require surgery, such as pocket reduction, soft tissue grafting, bone grafting, or guided tissue regeneration.
Signs of Gum Inflammation and Infection
Common symptoms of gingivitis and periodontitis are:
- Red or purple-tinged gums
- Swollen and irritated gums
- Bleeding when brushing and flossing
- Chronic bad breath (Halitosis)
- Pockets between the teeth and gums
Please let our dental office know if you have noticed any of these symptoms. We will work with you to find the areas of your smile that require treatment.
Periodontal Disease Treatment in Wayne, PA
We offer deep cleanings and antibiotics to help remove bacterial buildup from the gums. Scaling and root planning are treatments that work in tandem to remove plaque and tartar. Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that collects on the gums. When it hardens, it becomes tartar, which is often more difficult to remove.
Scaling and Root Planing
This non-surgical gum disease treatment is an intense dental cleaning. It removes accumulated deposits of plaque, tartar, and bacteria from the deep gum pockets where they form. Your dentist will use special tools to gently scrape away all signs of the disease.
Then your dentist will smooth the surfaces of the tooth roots to prevent further bacterial infections. Scaling and root planing will remove the bacteria below the gum line to prevent gum recession and tooth loss.
Antibiotic Therapy
Along with scaling and root planing, we often recommend antibiotic therapy to help control bacterial infections. During this treatment, we apply a topical antibiotic to the gums. Over several days, the antibiotic slowly dissolves into the gums.
How to Prevent Gum Disease
The best way to prevent gum disease is to practice good oral hygiene. This includes visiting your dentist regularly. Every six months, we will clean your teeth and examine your entire mouth for signs of this disease.
If we catch it early, treatment is easier and less painful. Our dental hygienists use specialized dental tools to clean teeth and gums and prevent bacterial buildup. Schedule your dental appointments every six months for the best cleaning.
You will also need to take good care of your oral health at home. This includes brushing your teeth at least twice a day with a soft-bristle toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste to remove plaque. Additionally, you need to floss at least once a day and avoid high-sugar food, candy, and drinks.
Periodontal Disease FAQs
Many people have questions about what causes gum disease, how to treat it, and the severity of the disease. We put together the top questions people ask about gum disease to give you the information you need to protect your smile. We hope these questions and answers will help you understand this oral disease better.
What is periodontal disease?
Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, is an oral infection. It impacts your gums and the underlying bones that support your teeth. It starts with bacterial buildup that causes inflammation and, if untreated, can lead to severe damage.
This disease has different stages that progress in severity. Diagnosing and treating this oral disease is crucial to preventing major damage to your oral health.
What are the symptoms of gum disease?
Gum disease can cause several noticeable symptoms. The most obvious ones you may notice are red, swollen, and bleeding gums, especially when brushing or flossing. Bad breath that won’t go away is another common sign.
As the disease progresses, you may feel pain or sensitivity in your teeth and notice they are loose or shifting. It’s important to see your dentist if you have these symptoms to prevent further damage and treat the disease effectively.
Can my dentist cure gum disease?
Your dentist can provide you with periodontal disease treatment to effectively treat and manage it. However, curing it is almost impossible unless you catch it early. Your dentist can reverse the signs of gingivitis if caught early.
The most vital thing to do is to stop the progression of the disease. We can effectively help halt the disease and control your symptoms. You will need a combination of a thorough dental cleaning, medication, and sometimes surgery to restore gum health.
Can periodontal disease cause tooth loss?
Yes, untreated gum disease can cause tooth loss. This oral disease causes the gums to pull away from the teeth, leading to the formation of pockets. Bacteria thrive in these gum pockets and damage the supporting bone.
Over time, the bone and tissue that hold your teeth in place weaken, causing the teeth to become loose and eventually fall out. Finding and treating gum disease as early as possible will prevent tooth loss.
Is periodontal disease painful?
This oral disease can lead to discomfort and pain. In most cases of advanced periodontitis, patients experience some level of pain. You might experience sensitivity, soreness, and even pain when chewing.
However, in the early stages, it often causes no pain. Most people with gingivitis find out during their regular dental check-ups. These two visits per year are essential. They allow us to catch and treat oral disease early, before more serious problems develop.
What are the risks of periodontal disease for overall health?
Gum disease has ties to heart disease, diabetes, diabetes complications, and respiratory issues. The bacteria that cause the gum infection can enter your bloodstream, leading to many additional health problems. Treating gum disease is the only way to avoid the risk of these overall health issues.
Can periodontal disease come back after treatment?
Yes, gum disease can return after treatment. Once your dentist gets the disease under control, you must practice good dental health. Prevent oral disease from returning with regular dental visits and consistent daily home care.
Reverse Symptoms of Gum Disease Today
Have you recently noticed changes in your gums? Call Wayne Family Dentistry at 610-347-5133. You can also request a dental appointment with our team on our website. If you have any further questions or concerns, let us know, and we can help!