Gum disease is an infection of the gum tissue that can become chronic if left untreated. In this article, we list the gum disease warning signs you should not ignore and discuss prevention and treatment methods.
Gum Disease Warning Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore
Gum disease warning signs include:
- Red or darkened
- Swollen gums
- Gums that bleed easily when you brush or floss your teeth
- Receding gums (gum tissue pulls away from your teeth, exposing the roots)
- Pain when touching your gums or chewing food
- Persistent bad breath or unpleasant taste in the mouth that does not go away after you brush and floss your teeth
- Pimples or cysts on the gums
- Pus oozing from periodontal pockets (spaces between the teeth and the gum tissue)
Why You Should Treat Gum Disease as Soon as Possible
Timely gum disease treatment is crucial as it can be fully reversed in its earliest stage, called gingivitis. Left untreated, gum disease will advance and become chronic, meaning that it will be possible only to control it and prevent it from advancing further, but not reverse it. That is why we recommend making an appointment with your dentist as soon as you notice the first signs of gum disease and scheduling bi-yearly checkups to implement timely preventive measures.
Uncontrolled gum disease can cause a variety of negative consequences, such as:
- Jawbone damage and its density loss
- Unstable teeth
- Tooth loss
- General health complications, especially heart, joint, lung, and blood sugar level issues
Gum Disease Treatment and Management Methods
Typically, gum disease treatment and management combine several of the following methods:
Improved Daily Oral Hygiene
The first step in gum disease treatment is improved daily oral hygiene. Unfortunately, professional treatments are going to be ineffective if you do not make your at-home hygiene routine as effective as possible.
Typically, good at-home oral hygiene consists of:
- Thorough teeth brushing with fluoride toothpaste twice a day for two full minutes
- Flossing every evening
- Using a water flosser in addition to traditional brushing and flossing
- Rinsing your mouth with water, and flossing your teeth after meals
Additionally, we recommend excluding sugary and acidic foods and beverages from your diet, as they promote bacterial growth in the mouth and erode tooth enamel.
Regular Professional Cleanings
Typically, it is recommended to undergo professional cleanings twice a year, but people with active gum disease are often recommended to have cleanings every 3 to 4 months.
Scaling and Root Planing
Scaling and root planing involves a deep cleaning in which plaque and tartar are removed from beneath the gumline to reduce inflammation and help the gum tissue reattach to the teeth.
Periodontal Pocket Reduction Surgery
Periodontal pockets are spaces where the gum tissue connects to your teeth. In cases of advanced gum disease, where plaque and tartar accumulate in enlarged periodontal pockets, they can be surgically reduced to help gum tissue reattach to the teeth. This procedure is also called flap surgery.
Medications
In some cases, antibacterial medications can be prescribed in combination with other treatments to reduce and control oral infections.
Gum and Bone Grafting
Gum and bone grafting can be used to restore the damaged tissue when the gum disease is sufficiently controlled. These procedures use naturally or artificially derived tissue placed in the areas where damage has occurred to prompt regeneration.
Treat Gum Disease at Dentist Mission Viejo
If you notice signs of gum disease, do not hesitate to make an appointment with an experienced dentist at Dentist Mission Viejo. Remember that the sooner you begin gum disease treatment, the greater the chances of fully treating the issue. We are looking forward to your visit.