When dental plaque or bacteria are left unchecked and allowed to accumulate on natural teeth, you may experience the typical signs and symptoms of gum diseases: bleeding gums, bad breath, shaky teeth and eventual tooth loss.
There are many types of gum diseases, but the most common gum diseases are gingivitis and periodontitis. Gingivitis occurs when the dental plaque affects only the edge of the gum next to the tooth. This stage of gum disease is early and reversible. The signs you need to look out for are swollen, inflamed gums that easily bleed when you brush your teeth.
Once gum disease progresses to involve the deeper supporting bony tissues, the teeth may become loose and displaced. This advanced stage of gum disease is known as periodontitis.
Treatment for gum diseases vary, depending on the stages of the disease, how you have responded to earlier treatments, and your overall health status. Treatments can range from nonsurgical procedures that control bacterial growth, to surgeries.
In most cases, the nonsurgical approach of scaling and root planing is all that is needed to restore healthy gums. In others, surgery may be warranted if the gum tissue around the teeth is badly damaged and cannot be repaired by nonsurgical means.
From our experiences, early detection of gum disease is key to prevention of disease worsening. If you are at high risk of gum disease, our dentists may recommend regular check-ups and professional cleaning more than twice a year.