Treatment for Gum Disease

Keeping your gums healthy is a vital component of your overall oral health. The gums are needed to support your teeth but are susceptible to infection from bacteria that live in your mouth. Gum disease occurs in over 50 percent of adults over the age of 30, putting them at risk of losing teeth and having other health issues linked to periodontal infections. Our team at Gold Hill Dentistry offers preventive and proactive gum disease treatments to help our patients maintain good gum and oral health.

Gum disease is primarily an infection and irritation of the gum tissue. When certain bacteria thrive in the mouth, they cause excess plaque and tartar to form on the teeth. This can irritate the gums, causing them to become inflamed and infected in the early stages of gum disease. Treating periodontal disease starts with thorough cleanings of the teeth to remove all the plaque and tartar. This can include deeper cleanings below the gum line with root scaling and planing. Special mouthwashes can also be used to control the infection as the gums heal. Later stages of periodontal disease can require more extensive treatments to remove diseased gum tissue, including oral surgery.

Symptoms and Causes of Periodontal Disease

Catching and treating gum disease early is the best recourse for restoring oral health. In the initial stages, periodontal disease can be reversed, and gums can become healthy again. Since the main cause of gum disease is bacteria growth, oral hygiene is paramount in prevention. It is also important to know the early symptoms, so you can begin treatment right away. Symptoms include:

• Red, swollen gum tissue
• Bad breath
• Gum tissue that is receding
• Gums that bleed easily

If you have any symptoms of gum disease, contact our office to schedule a cleaning and checkup. Your gums and teeth will be examined and if there is any sign of gum deterioration, we can begin a treatment plan to help restore your gum health.