Contact

Maintaining Healthy Gums

Did you know that gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss among adults today? If you suspect your gums are infected, let us know so we can place you on a periodontal therapy schedule to restore your health. This condition is linked to heart disease, so treatment is important for your overall well-being as well.

What Causes Gum Disease?

Periodontal disease results from inflammation of your gum tissue. This inflammation reveals pockets between your teeth as your gingival tissues recede. The same oral bacteria that cause tooth decay can gather in these pockets, accelerating your infection. Inflammation can begin from several factors, including smoking, poor oral hygiene, genetics, or illness. Recognizing the cause of your inflammation can help lead to effective treatment.

Identify The Symptoms Of Gum Infection

When you attend your dental cleanings and exams, we will check your mouth for signs of disease at every visit. You can also look for symptoms in between visits to receive treatment as early as possible. They include:

  • Consistent bleeding whenever you brush or floss
  • Chronic bad breath
  • Tender, swollen tissue that appears red
  • A receding gum line that exposes your tooth’s root

Treatment For Your Periodontal Infection

Our plan of action for treatment will depend upon the stage of your infection. Caught at its first stage, gingivitis, gum disease is reversible. This means that prompt care can remove the source of your inflammation and allow your gums to fully heal. We will provide a special cleaning that fully removes any bacterial deposits currently contributing to your infection so that your gums may properly reattach.

If you experience a more severe form of infection, we may suggest more frequent treatments to periodically manage your disease. These may include additional cleanings, antibiotic therapy, scaling and root planing, or gum surgery.