Understanding Gum Disease
Gum disease is a common dental problem for many adults. If your dentist has diagnosed you as having gum disease, he or she will set up a treatment plan. Symptoms of gum disease can be as minor as a bit of inflammation in the gums to the loss of soft tissue and bone that is needed for supporting teeth. If it is left unchecked for too long, it can lead to lost teeth.
Here is some more information to help you to better understand the causes and types of gum disease, and how it is treated.
Causes of Gum Disease
Bacteria causes dental plaque, and you need to brush and floss regularly to keep plaque at bay. But, this can't remove all plaque, and eventually it will harden and turn into tartar. This must be removed by a dentist. When you don't have regular professional dental cleanings, you are at risk for gum disease.
Types of Gum Disease
There are two types of gum disease. Gingivitis causes the gums to get red and swollen. You can often tell if you have gingivitis if when you are brushing your teeth, your gums bleed. Gingivitis is the less serious of the two types of gum disease, and it can be reversed by following a proper dental hygiene program and regular cleanings from your dentist.
The more serious type of gum disease is periodontitis. This is the one that can lead to tooth loss, because the gums move away from the teeth, leaving gaps that are known as pockets. These pockets get infected, and the problem spreads. The bone and soft tissue that anchor the teeth begin to break down, and eventually, teeth often need to be removed because they have become loose.
Gum Disease Treatment Options
Depending on the type of gum disease, and the extent of it, there are many types of treatments that your dentist may recommend. If you are a smoker, the first recommendation will be that you quit. Deep cleaning may also be recommended. This involves scraping tartar below and above the gum line, removing a lot of bacteria. Often, a laser is used for this process because it is more comfortable for the patient.
Medications are often used with other treatments, but they are only temporary treatments. They are likely not going to make it so you don't need surgery, but they will help to treat the symptoms until you can have the surgery performed.
There are two different types of surgeries for patients who have gum disease. One is flap surgery, where the gums are cut and lifted back so the dentist can get rid of the tartar in the pockets, and then the gums are sutured in place again. The other type of surgery is a bone or tissue graft, which can help to regenerate soft tissue and bones.
Talk to clinics such as Precision Dental Care @ Kingston to learn more about professionals can address your gum disease issues.
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