Healthy gums are the foundation for a healthy smile. If the picture that we envision is a beautiful and healthy smile, then the gums are the frame to that portrait. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that half of all Americans age 30 and older have some form of periodontal disease.
Bleeding gums are one of the most common warning signs of gum disease, or gingivitis. This usually happens when teeth aren’t cleaned well enough. Without proper brushing and flossing, harmful bacteria build up along the gumline. This bacteria can harden into a rough substance called tartar, irritate your gums, and cause them to bleed.
The health of your gums is connected to the health of your entire body. Research has shown that gum disease may be linked to more serious health problems, including heart disease and dementia.
Taking good care of your gums has huge benefits. If gum disease isn’t treated, it can cause damaged teeth, changes in how your teeth fit together, and even cause your teeth to shift out of place. People with unhealthy gums also have a higher risk of developing heart disease and respiratory infections.
Dr. Huckin checks your gums for any signs of disease at your regular check-ups. He may suggest treatments to get your gums back to their best health.
Understanding the Stages of Gum Disease
Gum disease gets worse over time and has four main stages. It’s important to catch it early to keep your mouth and body healthy.
Stage 1: Gingivitis
This is the earliest and only reversible stage of gum disease. It starts when plaque builds up on your teeth, irritates your gums, and makes them red and swollen. Many of the signs, like bleeding when you brush or floss, don’t hurt, so patients don’t realize they have it. Fortunately you can fix gingivitis with good brushing, flossing, and sometimes a special mouthwash.
Stage 2: Slight Periodontal Disease
If gingivitis isn’t treated, it turns into slight periodontal disease. This stage isn’t reversible. The infection becomes more serious and starts to spread below your gums to attack the bone that holds your teeth in place.
Deep pockets form between your teeth and gums. The pockets trap bacteria and food to cause even more harm. Treatment at this stage involves scaling and root planing, or a deep cleaning to clean out the pockets and help your gums reattach to your teeth.
Stage 3: Moderate Periodontal Disease
In the moderate stage, the infection gets worse. The harmful bacteria don’t just attack your bone; they can also enter your bloodstream and affect the rest of your body. Even more bacteria build up in the pockets around your teeth. A deep cleaning is still used at this stage to try to manage the infection and stop it from causing more damage.
Stage 4: Severe Periodontal Disease
This is the most serious stage of gum disease. The infection is now fully attacking your body. Your gums might be painful, ooze pus, and it can be hard to chew or even talk. Teeth often become loose and can fall out because so much supporting bone has been lost. At this point, surgery is usually needed to try to manage the disease and save any remaining teeth.
Our dental hygienist is specially trained to help at every stage. We’re committed to providing kind, personal care to stop the disease from progressing and help you have healthy gums that last.
Gum Disease Treatment with Dr. William Huckin
Your first appointment will help us understand how advanced your gum disease is and if it has caused any damage. Dr. Huckin will carefully examine your gums to figure out the best way to treat them. Our goal is to provide the right and most relevant care. We offer a few different treatment options depending on your needs:
- Scaling and root planing: This is a deep cleaning that goes below your gumline. First, we thoroughly clean your teeth. Then, we carefully clean the roots of your teeth to remove harmful bacteria and plaque from deep pockets. This process helps your gums heal and reattach to your teeth.
- Oral surgery: If your gum disease is more serious and has caused a lot of damage, you might need oral surgery. Dr. Huckin may suggest a procedure to repair and restore the damaged tissue around your teeth. This surgery will help save your teeth and give you a healthier smile.
- Antibacterial rinse: To keep gum disease from coming back, Dr. Huckin might also recommend you use a prescription antibacterial mouthwash. Adding this rinse to your daily brushing and flossing routine is a simple but powerful step. It helps kill bacteria that regular cleaning can miss, protecting your gums and ensuring your treatment lasts for the long term.
Gum Disease FAQs
What is the difference between plaque and tartar?
Plaque is a sticky bacterial film that can build on the teeth and gums. If you don’t remove plaque, it hardens to form tartar. Tartar is more difficult to remove than plaque because it’s a calcified deposit. Only dental professionals can effectively remove tartar from your mouth.
Why is periodontal therapy necessary?
Getting treatment for gum disease is very important to stop more serious health problems from developing. Gum disease can cause a lot of damage to your mouth. If the infection from gum disease gets into your blood, it can travel to your heart and affect your overall health. These harmful bacteria can cause swelling and inflammation that puts extra stress on your heart.
This can raise your risk of having a heart attack, a stroke, or developing heart disease. The good news is that periodontal therapy cleans out the dangerous bacteria. This treatment helps prevent other major issues, like losing your teeth or having your gums pull back from your teeth.
How do you reverse gingivitis?
Gingivitis is the earliest stage of gum disease, and it causes your gums to become inflamed. Your dentist can completely reverse this stage. The best way to fix it is by flossing daily, brushing your teeth twice a day, and going to your regular dental cleanings.
If your gums bleed when you brush but you don’t floss often, you will see a difference once you start flossing every day. By taking good care of your teeth at home and getting professional help, you can stop gingivitis from turning into a more serious gum disease.
What will I feel after a deep cleaning (scaling and root planing)?
Your gums are already sore and sensitive because they’re inflamed and infected. Because of this, it’s normal to feel some extra soreness or discomfort for about a week after your deep cleaning.
You might notice that the treated areas feel tender and maybe even a little sensitive. If your gum infection was more serious, you could also have some slight bleeding. To help with the discomfort, you can take pain relievers like aspirin or ibuprofen. Using a toothpaste for sensitive teeth and brushing very gently will also help your gums feel better as they heal.
How often should I visit the dentist if I require regular periodontal therapy?
Visit our Dallas dental office every two to four months if you have moderate to severe gum disease. You will require more frequent dental visits so we can track any developments in your oral health. It’s also beneficial to receive periodontal therapy regularly to remove harmful bacteria and prevent reinfection.
Can gum disease cause tooth loss?
Yes, advanced gum disease is a leading cause of tooth loss in adults. In the later stages of the disease, the infection does serious damage. It destroys the bone and tissue that act as an anchor for your teeth. As this support system breaks down, deep pockets form around the tooth roots and teeth can become loose.
Once the infection reaches this point and attacks the roots, the damage is often too severe to fix. If the disease isn’t stopped, the teeth will eventually become so loose that they fall out or need to be removed by a dentist.
Manage Chronic Gum Disease Today
If you have chronic gum disease, Dr. Huckin can help you with a custom treatment plan. We suggest our patients visit us every six months, though we may ask you to come in more often so that we can keep a close eye on the health of your gums. Don’t hesitate to give us a call or request an appointment if you see the early signs of gum disease in your mouth.