Gum Disease Treatment in Upper Arlington
When we think about dental health, we often think about our teeth. It makes quite a bit of sense; they are responsible for our smiles, help us chew, keep our jawbone healthy and even our facial muscles taunt. But it is also important to remember our mouths are very complex and the soft tissue has its own unique challenges like gum disease.
What Is Periodontal Disease?
Periodontal disease, or gum disease, is a bacterial growth that can be destructive. Our mouths are home to all sorts of bacteria, but harmful bacteria can hide along our gums and begin to irritate the soft tissue by becoming plaque or tartar. With discoloration of the teeth and gums, it is only a cosmetic issue at first.
But don’t be fooled! Even in its early stages, gum disease can be a serious health risk. It causes oversensitivity in gums before advancing into tooth decay that can cause both tooth loss and infection that can spread throughout your entire body.
Thankfully, the dedicated dental professionals at our office are here to help. If you are suffering from gum disease, contact us for a consultation and discover your treatment options to restore your oral health.
Types of Gum Disease
If you listen to commercials promising the freshest breath or the latest toothpaste, you might think that gum disease is only an inconvenience, like bad breath. Unfortunately, these commercials aren’t giving you all the information, and instead, they are only offering products that deal with antibacterial agents to prevent gum disease, not treat it.
If you already have gum disease, it is often categorized into two types. Now, this isn’t two varieties of disease, but rather, how advanced your gum disease has progressed. Again, gum disease originates from harmful bacteria, but advances at different rates into different stages.
Stage 1: Gingivitis
The first “type” or stage is one you have probably heard of: gingivitis. This is the first stage of gum disease and is rather treatable if caught early. In fact, according to the National Library of Medicine, half of all adults will develop gingivitis at some point in their lives.
The warning signs for gingivitis can vary, but should not be ignored. Contact our office if you are noticing any of the following:
- You have persistent bad breath that won’t go away.
- You have dark or lighter spots along your gums.
- Brushing or flossing your teeth is causing excessive bleeding from your gums.
- Your gums are swollen and tender, but don’t hurt or ache on their own.
- Your gums are becoming overly sensitive, even hurt when touched.
Stage 2: Periodontitis
If ignored long enough, gum disease can advance into periodontal disease, which has several stages. These are much more dangerous than gingivitis as they can lead to tooth loss, jawbone deterioration, and even periodontitis-related infections spreading throughout your mouth!
Symptoms of periodontitis include:
- Bleeding gums, even when there doesn’t seem to be a cause
- Loose teeth or tooth loss
- Spacing between the teeth
- Persistent bad breath (halitosis)
- Gum recession, or gums pulling back from the teeth
- Discharge around the teeth and gums
- Red and puffy gums
- Tenderness in the gums or difficulty chewing
Gum Disease Treatment
We provide effective gum disease treatments so you can protect your smile. Some of the nonsurgical options we offer include:
- Routine Teeth Cleanings | For some patients, gum disease is easily reversible with frequent routine cleanings. This gentle process can remove the tartar and plaque that may be too difficult for you to eliminate at home.
- Deep Cleanings | For more advanced cases of gum disease, a scaling and root planing procedure, called a deep cleaning procedure, may be useful. In this procedure, we remove the tartar and plaque from the teeth with a combination of electronic and manual scaling. We also clean the periodontal pockets to prevent the spread of gum disease.
Take Control of Periodontal Disease – Get Gum Disease Treatment in Upper Arlington!
If you’re experiencing tender gums or suspect that you may be suffering from gum disease, call, text, or email our office today. We work with patients all over the Upper Arlington area, including Hilliard and Grandview Heights. The earlier patients address periodontal disease, the better!