Do you have swollen, tender, or inflamed gums? Do your gums bleed easily while brushing your teeth? If so, you may be suffering from periodontitis, also called periodontal gum disease. An early visit to our office at the first signs of gingivitis can help prevent advanced periodontal gum disease. Dr. Wilhite has extensive training and necessary skills to effectively treat this serious gum disease.
What Is Periodontal Gum Disease?
Periodontal gum disease is an infection of the gum tissue surrounding your teeth. It is mainly caused by bacteria that accumulate under your gums. When these bacteria overstay their welcome in your mouth, they cause infection and inflammation in your gums.
Along with tooth decay, periodontitis is the number one dental health issue affecting Americans. The CDC estimates that more than 47% of all adults in the US suffer from some form of gum disease. Luckily, children are not generally affected by periodontal gum disease.
Men are more likely to suffer from periodontal gum disease than women (56% vs. 38%). Your chances of getting the disease increase with age; 70% of people above the age of 65 have periodontal disease. You are also more likely to get it if you are a regular smoker.
Fortunately, periodontal disease can be prevented if you detect it early and take proper treatment and precautions. This disease has multiple stages, starting from a simple infection before progressing into more severe forms that spread beyond your gums.
From Gingivitis to Periodontitis
We can divide gum disease into two forms Gingivitis and Periodontitis. Of the two, gingivitis is the milder early stage of gum disease. The important thing to note here is that everyone gets gingivitis at some point. Our mouths are always under assault from harmful bacteria. If you keep your teeth healthy and perform proper oral hygiene regularly, the bacteria does not have much chance to accumulate.
If you miss out on regular brushing and flossing, you get plaque on your teeth. It is a sticky mixture of food particles, other debris, and bacteria. When the plaque is not properly removed, it triggers your body’s immune system.
Once the immune system gets involved, your gums become inflamed. They become redder, puffier, and may start to bleed easily. Bleeding gums is a sure sign of infection – healthy gums never bleed. At this early stage, gingivitis caused by plaque build-up can be easily treated with a thorough cleaning and regular oral hygiene.
If you visit your dentist’s office regularly, the gingivitis will be caught early and promptly treated. When caught in time, we can clear it up in under two weeks with minimal medication. If you don’t practice good oral hygiene or visit a dentist periodically, the situation can get much worse.
The following things could happen:
- Scaling: The careful removal of plaque from your tooth and gums using either a handheld dental scaler or an advanced ultrasonic scaling instrument.
- Root planing: Immediately after scaling, the dentist will perform an even deeper cleaning of your dental root area using a curette, cleaning any pockets down there and smoothing things over.
Antibiotics
In more severe cases of swollen gums or persistent bleeding, the infection and inflammation may refuse to go away even after improved oral hygiene and deep cleaning. In such situations, the dentist may prescribe antibiotics.
Corrective/Restorative Surgery
In advanced periodontal disease, you may require surgery to remove deep-seated pockets of bacteria and debris. In situations where there is severe damage to the gums and jawbones, special reconstructive surgeries (such as flap surgery) using tissue from other parts of the body like the roof of your mouth may prove helpful.
Aftercare
Deep cleaning or surgery cannot protect you from periodontal disease. You will have to maintain strict oral health and hygiene habits to keep plaque and bacteria at bay. More frequent visits to your dentist may also be necessary to review the status of your gums and teeth.
Diagnosis of periodontal gum disease, especially in the early to moderate stages, is not easy since it shares the same symptoms as gingivitis. To accurately diagnose the current stage of your gum disease, a dentist will rely on the following methods:
