Periodontal Gum Disease Sachse, TX
An important part of caring for your smile is making sure that your gums are healthy. When they aren’t being cleaned or properly cared for, you can be at risk of gum disease. Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is an infection of the gums surrounding your teeth. This disease is one of the top reasons for tooth loss in adults, and because not everyone experiences pain or obvious symptoms from it, many patients do not even know they have it.
Seeing your Sachse, TX dentist every six months for a dental exam and professional cleaning is an important part of gum disease prevention and detection. During each regular checkup, your Sachse dentist will check for signs of periodontal disease and other issues including receding gums, exposed roots, and tooth grinding.
What Causes Gum Disease?
Gum disease is caused by a buildup of plaque (a sticky form of bacteria that forms on the teeth). If the plaque is not removed by flossing, brushing, and regular dental checkups, it will continue to build up and create toxins that can damage the gums. Periodontal disease forms just below the gum line and creates small pockets that separate the gums from the teeth.
Stages of Gum Disease
Periodontal disease has two stages: Gingivitis and Periodontitis.
- Gingivitis: This is the early stage of gum disease, when the gums become red and swollen, and bleed easily. At this stage, the disease is treatable and can usually be eliminated by daily brushing and flossing.
- Periodontitis: If left untreated, Gingivitis will advance into Periodontitis, and the gums and bone that support the teeth will become seriously and irreversibly damaged. Gums infected with Periodontitis can cause teeth to become loose, fall out, or have to be removed by a dentist.
Symptoms of Periodontal Gum Disease
While it is possible to have periodontal disease and not know it, some symptoms can include:
- Gums that bleed easily
- Red, swollen, tender gums
- Gums that have pulled away from the teeth
- Persistent bad breath or bad taste
- Pus between your teeth and gums
- Permanent teeth that are loose or separating
- Any change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite
- Any change in the fit of partial dentures
Gum Disease Treatment
If you've been diagnosed with gum disease, the chance of successfully treating it is high as long as it’s treated promptly, and you follow the instructions of your dentist. Our dentist offers a variety of gum disease treatment options in Sachse, TX depending on the details of your situation and the severity of the problem. The least invasive options are non-surgical, such as scaling and root planing. However, in more serious cases, surgical treatment may be necessary. Periodontal surgery, bone grafting, and implant dentistry are all surgical options to help reverse the symptoms of Periodontitis. Medication may also be prescribed that can keep bad bacteria at bay.
Scaling and Root Planing
The first line of defense against gum disease is dental scaling and root planing. In this procedure, an ultrasonic cleaning device is used to remove plaque and tartar from your teeth where regular cleaning devices can't reach: under the gum line, on the tooth, and around the root. Then, the rough surface of the tooth and the root are smoothed out (planed). This provides a healthy, clean surface that makes it easier for the gum tissue to reattach to the tooth.
If you address your gum disease before it becomes severe, scaling and root planing may be the only treatment you need. However, it is vital that after treatment you brush and floss daily, eat a healthy diet, avoid tobacco use, and have regular dental checkups to maintain your oral health. Even after successful scaling and root planing, if you don't practice quality, consistent oral hygiene, you may develop gum disease again.