What is Gum Disease?

Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, occurs when bacteria in your mouth penetrate below your gumline and affect the connective tissues and underlying bone structure that support your teeth. There are two types, and they are:

• Gingivitis . This is the earliest stage of this condition and can often be reversed by improving your oral hygiene routine, in addition to maintaining routine dental appointments every 6 months.
• Periodontitis . If gingivitis isn’t treated, it eventually progresses into this advanced stage. This type can be managed, but not necessarily cured.

Certain factors increase the likelihood that you’ll develop a problem, such as:

• Smoking, vaping, or using other tobacco products.
• Poor oral hygiene habits.
•  
• Medical conditions that suppress your immune system, like diabetes.
• Medications that cause dry mouth.
• Hormonal changes due to pregnancy or menopause.

Symptoms of Gum Disease

Unfortunately, gingivitis can be hard to detect because you might not notice visible signs until it has progressed. Some indicators that you may have developed an issue include:

• Halitosis, or chronic bad breath.
• Red or swollen gums.
• Slight bleeding when you brush or floss.
• Gum recession (where the gums pull away from the surface of your tooth exposing more of the structure).

You might have periodontitis if you notice:

• Loosened adult teeth.
• Pain while chewing.
• Sensitivity because of gum recession.
• A change in how your restoration fits (for example, your dentures may become dislodged)
• Permanent tooth loss.

How Do We Treat Gum Disease?

Before she can suggest a suitable treatment plan, Dr. Burton must first examine your mouth to determine the severity of your condition. Then, depending on your circumstances, she might recommend one of the following services:

Scaling & Root Planing

This process typically takes two appointments to complete and happens in stages. First, our team will thoroughly clean all the plaque and tartar from your teeth with special instruments to eliminate as much bacteria as we can. If your gums have receded, we’ll scale down to any pockets below the gumline to ensure that no germs are hidden there.

Then, we’ll schedule a second appointment to smooth out the surface of the roots of your teeth which removes any hardened bacteria deposits. This allows the gum tissue to reattach to them to continue to protect them.

Antibiotic Treatment

We can also use medication to eradicate unwanted bacteria from your mouth. Dr. Burton can prescribe an antibiotic pill that eradicates germs and fights infection. This prevents your condition from worsening and gives your gums a chance to heal.