Bright pink, red and swollen gums are a sign of gum disease. If your gums bleed when you brush or floss, you should make a dental appointment right away for diagnosis and treatment. Early treatment of gum disease is your best defense against serious problems with your teeth and jaw bones. At Shadle Smiles, our periodontic treatment will help restore your gums back to health. Neglecting care at this point could lead to unnecessary tooth loss and damage to the surrounding bone structure.
Gingivitis is the early stage of periodontal disease. At this early stage, treatment usually consists of a thorough cleaning to remove food debris, plaque buildup and tartar. Special toothpaste and mouthwash may be prescribed to help heal the infected gums. Your dentist may also recommend subsequent visits to monitor the healing process. Often gingivitis responds favorably to treatment and is resolved quickly.
More advanced periodontal disease requires more extensive treatment and may also require ongoing visits to the dental office. Your dentist or hygienist will make recommendations regarding the best plan of action for treatment of your periodontitis, taking into consideration the severity of the disease.
Scaling and Root Planing
After removing the plaque and tartar from the teeth, the next step in the healing process is to smooth the roots of the affected teeth so the gums can reattach. This is accomplished by using special dental tools to scale away any additional tartar and plane the roots to make them smooth and slick again.
In very severe cases of periodontitis, antibiotics may be used orally or under the gums to reduce signs of infection. Surgery is sometimes required to remove damaged or dead gum tissue. When periodontitis is this severe, follow-up treatments are necessary in order to promote healing.
Symptoms and Causes of Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease is characterized by bright pink or red puffy gums. This is often accompanied by bleeding of the gums when you brush or floss your teeth. Sometimes bleeding can occur when eating hard foods like apples or carrots.
Tartar buildup on the teeth is also another obvious sign. This hard yellow-brownish substance accumulates around the gum line, pushing the gums away from affected teeth. Some individuals have a genetic tendency to build up plaque and tartar. This buildup causes pockets to form between the teeth and gums where food debris and bacteria can accumulate, causing infection.
Poor oral hygiene is one of the most common causes of periodontal disease, however certain medicines and medical conditions can also make a person more prone to developing the disease. Hormonal changes women and girls experience can make them more susceptible to gum disease also.
Shadle Smiles can identify the first signs of gum disease and stop the problem before it has an opportunity to advance. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
