Treatments for Gum Disease

Gum disease is painless and therefore often goes undetected. In fact, over 47% of fellow Americans over the age of 30 have some form of chronic gum disease. Most often the disease if brought on by simply neglecting good oral hygiene. If you exercise the health industry’s suggestions of brushing twice a day and flossing once a day you will go a long way in reducing the risk of the disease. If you do a quick, fast job of brushing you start accelerating your chances. By not flossing you now are allowing the sticky plaque to sit on your teeth in areas the brush cannot reach. Once this bacteria carrying plaque reaches the gums it will begin to cause an infection and inflammation. Creating good habits of brushing and flossing as well as seeing your dentist twice a year can alleviate most all gum disease possibilities.

The First Treatment for Gum Disease

The first level of the disease is called gingivitis. This level, which is mostly inflammation of the gums, can be reverse quickly with a good professional teeth cleaning by your dentist. Removing the plaque and even some mineralized tartar will eliminate the bacteria causing the infection. This may be done in one visit only, or if the disease has progressed, it may take several visits to clean the teeth under the gum line.

The Second Treatment for Progressing Gum Disease

If you gums now are beginning to recede from your teeth creating gaps you are now entering the next progression of the disease called periodontitis. This next level is becoming more serious. Your gums are becoming a deeper red, may bleed easily, and you may now even begin noticing a loose tooth or a change in your bite pattern. At this level your dentist may introduce a periodontist who specializes now in the treatment of the disease. The teeth may need to be scaled and root planing is now necessary to remove the plaque and tartar from the teeth well below the surface of your gum line. A local anesthetic will now be given to reduce discomfort. If you have really let the disease go surgery may now be necessary to help with bone loss. Soft tissue grafting may be necessary if you have excessive gum lost. The summarizing facts here are that the gum disease can be corrected at various stages or levels, but all would be unnecessary with proper home care.

Moving Forward

Once the disease has been treated you will get instructions to brush and floss regularly and to do a good job while you are at it. You will also have regular examinations moving forward with your dentist and the periodontist if one was necessary. You, and they, will want to keep your teeth and gums healthy and free from any gum disease. You should plan on seeing your dentist twice a year for regular examinations, teeth cleaning and x-rays, and you can avoid becoming a statistic and subjecting yourself to an unnecessary and unfortunate disease.

More Information on Gum Disease : What Is Gum Disease Exactly?