Are you doing everything you can to take charge of your gum health?
Gum disease (or periodontal disease) is a common inflammatory condition that affects the supporting and surrounding soft tissues of the tooth.
Gum disease is most often preceded by gingivitis—a bacterial infection of the gum tissue. Gum disease is a progressive condition that if left untreated can cause shifting teeth, loose teeth, and eventually tooth loss.
Symptoms
Periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss among adults in the developed world. Watch for the following symptoms to ensure you always have healthy gums.
- Inflamed, swollen, or puffy gums
- Tender or painful gums and chewing
- Bright red, dusky red, or purplish gums
- Receding gum line
- Bad breath
- Gums that bleed easily
- Loose teeth or loss of teeth
If you notice any of these symptoms, schedule an appointment, so we can help you keeps your gums healthy!
Diagnosis
We can help diagnose you during your checkup by doing a periodontal examination. During this process, we will use a periodontal probe to measure the sulcus (pocket or space) between the tooth and the gums. A healthy sulcus will be three millimeters or less and will not bleed. These pockets will get deeper as periodontal disease progresses.
Treatment
Treatment of gum disease must be done by a dental professional. The method of treatment depends on the severity of the disease. We will evaluate you and recommend the appropriate treatment.
If we catch gum disease before any damage is done, we will do one or two cleanings, and recommend ways to improve daily oral hygiene to prevent further disease.
Once the disease has progressed to more advanced stages, we can perform a special periodontal cleaning called scaling and root planning. This procedure will help heal your gum tissue. We may also recommend medication, medicated mouth rinses, and an electric toothbrush to help with healing.
If you’re worried about gum disease, we’re here to help. It is preventable and treatable with good oral hygiene and regular dental checkups.
Email or call us using the contact information below to take charge of your gum health today!
Behner Family Dentistry
Phone: 407-565-9868
