Periodontal care is an essential part of good oral health care. In this article, we discuss the most common periodontal health issues—gum disease, its stages, prevention, and treatment methods.
Stages of Gum Disease
Periodontal disease is an infectious condition of the gum tissue. The primary cause of this infection is bacteria that proliferate in plaque and tartar. Additional risk factors for gum disease include smoking, genetic predisposition, and some systemic general health issues, such as diabetes.
Let us look at three main stages of gum disease.
Gingivitis
Gingivitis is the earliest stage of gum disease. This is the only stage at which gum disease can be fully treated, restoring your gums to complete health. If you miss the signs and leave the condition untreated, the disease will advance and become a chronic condition.
The symptoms of gingivitis include:
- Red, tender, puffy gums
- Gums that bleed easily when you floss or brush your teeth
- Persistent bad breath
Periodontitis
As we mentioned above, periodontitis is a chronic infection of the gum tissue and can only be controlled, but not completely reversed. The main symptoms of periodontitis include:
- Gum recession (gum tissue pulls away from the teeth)
- Enlarged periodontal pockets (spaces between the teeth and gums)
- Frequent bleeding when flossing and brushing
- Tender gums that are painful to touch
- Pain when brushing or chewing food
- Pus in periodontal pockets
- Pimples or cysts on the gums
- Some jawbone density loss
Advanced Periodontitis
Advanced periodontitis is a severe form of inflammation affecting the gums and jawbone. Typically, at this stage, patients experience:
- Very deep periodontal pockets
- Severe gum bleeding
- Significant jawbone density loss
- Teeth mobility
- Tooth loss
- Painful abscesses of the gum tissue
Gum Disease Prevention Methods
As we mentioned before, gum disease is primarily caused by bacteria living in plaque and tartar buildup. Hence, an effective oral hygiene routine is the most important factor in preventing gum disease. Follow these steps to ensure that your teeth and gums are free of plaque and tartar:
- Brush your teeth for two full minutes twice a day
- Make sure to clean well at the back of the mouth and along the gumline
- Opt for a toothbrush that will clean effectively but not irritate or harm your gums in the process
- Choose fluoride toothpaste to reduce bacteria in the mouth and strengthen the teeth
- Avoid abrasive and whitening products as they can irritate the gums
- Floss thoroughly every evening
- Use a water flosser in addition to traditional flossing and brushing (a water flosser has been proven to be effective at gum disease prevention)
- Do not skip biyearly professional dental cleanings and fluoride treatments.
Gum Disease Treatment Methods
Treatment methods depend on the stage of gum disease:
Gingivitis Treatment
In its earliest stage, gingivitis (gum disease), it is typically treated with improved oral hygiene, frequent professional cleanings and fluoride treatments (every 4 months), and sometimes oral antibiotics to stop the infection from advancing.
Periodontitis Treatment
To treat periodontitis, your doctor is likely to employ a combination of the following methods:
- Regular deep professional cleanings
- Scaling and root planing
- Antibacterial therapy
- Improved at-home oral hygiene
Advanced Periodontitis Treatment
Advanced periodontitis typically requires the following treatment methods:
- Antibacterial therapy
- Periodontal pocket reduction surgery (also called flap surgery)
- Gum or bone grafting
- Guided tissue regeneration
Treat Gum Disease with David Kao DDS
If you notice signs of gum disease, no matter how seemingly insignificant, make an appointment with an experienced periodontal dentist as soon as possible. Remember that gum disease can be fully treated in its earliest stage, but it becomes chronic if left unaddressed. We are looking forward to helping you preserve and restore your oral health.
