Gum pain is an unpleasant sensation that can impact your quality of life and oral health. It can be associated with bleeding gums and may also be a sign of gum disease. If you experience gum pain or bleeding, please contact our office. At Vista Ridge Family Dentistry, we’re happy to help you learn about periodontal disease treatment in our Cedar Park, TX, office.
Professional gum treatment can restore your oral health. Gum disease treatment is a part of the restorative dentistry services we provide in Cedar, Texas. Restoring your gum health can renew your smile’s comfort and function.
What Causes Gum Disease?
Harmful bacteria cause periodontal disease. Your mouth contains good bacteria that keep your smile healthy. However, harmful bacteria can affect your gums for multiple reasons.
You’re more likely to develop a dental infection if you:
- Don’t brush and floss thoroughly
- Take certain medications
- Suffer from one or more medical conditions (diabetes)
- Use tobacco products or smoke
- A weakened immune system
As harmful bacteria grow in the mouth, a sticky bacterial film called plaque builds on the gum tissue. If you do not remove plaque from your smile, it can harden to form tartar. White tartar deposits are harder to clean and require professional tools for removal.
This bacteria causes infection and inflammation of the gums and bones supporting teeth. Once tartar forms, periodontal treatment from a dental professional is necessary. Only a dentist can remove tartar, or calculus, from the teeth and gums. Without professional care, gum disease destroys gum tissue. Without support, your permanent teeth can fall out.
Signs of Gum Disease
There are many symptoms of gum disease to look out for:
- Red or purple gums
- Bleeding gums when brushing and flossing
- Chronic gum pain
- Gum pockets (the gums pulling away from the teeth)
- Loose teeth
Gum disease is progressive. In the most severe cases of gum disease, you can lose your permanent teeth. Contact Vista Ridge Family Dentistry as soon as you notice changes in your gum health.
You may only need professional cleaning if you have minor symptoms, including gum sensitivity and bleeding when you brush and floss. Thoroughly cleaning your teeth and gums twice daily can prevent gum disease symptoms. However, if gum disease progresses to the point where you have severe gum damage, you may need more invasive treatment.
Stages of Gum Disease
Knowing how gum disease progresses can help you treat your symptoms before they worsen:
- Gingivitis: Gum inflammation is the first stage of gum disease. You can have gum inflammation if your gums bleed when you brush your teeth. This stage is also marked by sensitive, red, and bleeding gums.
- Mild Periodontitis: As gum inflammation and irritation spread throughout the mouth, the gums pull away from the teeth. You may notice small gum pockets and chronic gum pain if you develop gum disease.
- Moderate Periodontitis: Bacteria affect the natural ligaments and bone at this stage. You will experience larger gum pockets and may notice chronic bad breath if you have moderate gum disease. While this stage isn’t reversible, you can manage your symptoms by getting professional care.
- Advanced Periodontitis: Severe gum disease symptoms include loose teeth, bite problems, and deep gum pockets. You will need dental surgery to save your teeth and gums.
Can You Reverse Gum Disease?
Unfortunately, once gum disease progresses past the first stage of gingivitis, it is often no longer reversible. In the early stages, you can maintain your gums with regular deep cleanings and scaling from your dentist.
Proper cleaning and care can provide the chance to reverse gingivitis. Regular dental cleanings can also prevent symptoms of gum disease from worsening. Gum disease treatment will vary due to the symptoms and severity of your gum disease.
When gum disease goes untreated, gum pain and swollen and bleeding gums will worsen as the infection spreads. Eventually, the gums can pull away from the teeth, exposing the tooth root. You can experience increased tooth sensitivity and potential tooth loss.
More advanced stages of gum disease can require more costly dental care. Fortunately, personalized gum treatment from our dental care team can treat and encourage the gums to reattach to the tooth roots.
Periodontal Disease Treatment in Cedar Park, TX
Professional dental cleanings can benefit patients in the earliest stages of gum disease. During routine cleanings, we remove bacteria from the teeth and gums and apply gritty toothpaste. We can also apply fluoride to protect teeth from decay.
However, we recommend scaling and root planing for patients with mild to moderate gum disease. Patients with deep gum pockets benefit from a deep cleaning treatment.
We will numb the mouth so you will not feel any pain during treatment. Then, during a scaling treatment, we remove bacterial buildup on and beneath the gums.
We use a traditional metal scaler and a water scaler. The scaler uses high-pressure water and vibration to clean plaque and tartar from the gum tissue. A traditional metal scaler helps us physically remove tartar below the gums.
After scaling, we perform root planing. Like scaling, root planing removes bacterial buildup. However, this treatment removes bacteria from the tooth roots beneath the gums, helping the tooth roots reattach to the gums.
We can provide scaling and root planing for patients with chronic gum disease. These treatments can prevent the spread of gum disease. However, if your symptoms continue to return, we may recommend oral surgery.
At-Home Gum Care
Maintaining your gum health at home can prevent gum disease and reinfection. You can follow these steps to keep your teeth and gums healthy:
Brush and Floss
Many patients fail to floss during their oral hygiene routine. However, flossing removes food debris and bacteria from between teeth. Flossing once or twice a day before brushing helps active ingredients in toothpaste reach the gums.
When brushing with a manual brush, clean in circular motions. If you have an electric toothbrush, the brush will rotate for you. Brush for two minutes twice a day. A good oral hygiene routine can help reverse early signs of gum disease and prevent the infection from progressing.
Use Antibacterial Rinses
An alcohol-free mouthwash or rinse can reduce the number of harmful bacteria in your mouth. We can provide antibacterial rinses during scaling and root planing dental cleanings. These rinses provide continual protection to your teeth and gums. Rinsing your mouth with a mouthwash can help reduce hard-to-reach bacteria.
Quit Smoking
Tobacco products encourage gum inflammation. Smoking, vaping, or using other tobacco products can increase your risk of developing gum disease. Tobacco products contain nicotine, which constricts the blood vessels and slows the immune system. If you develop a bacterial infection, it takes longer for your gums to heal.
Using tobacco products regularly can also increase your risk of dry mouth. Dry mouth is a condition that occurs when there is not enough saliva in the mouth. Saliva helps wash away food debris and bacteria. Harmful bacteria thrive in a dry environment. You can develop gum disease if these bacteria grow due to dry mouth.
We will also encourage you to ask questions about your gum health at regular dental visits. Our team can provide tips to improve your oral hygiene routine or recommend additional gum treatments.
Gum Disease Treatment FAQs
Periodontal disease can have serious consequences without prompt treatment. Read the answers to these common patient questions.
Is gum disease contagious?
While gum disease is not contagious, the bacteria that cause it can spread through saliva. Sharing utensils, kissing, or using the same toothbrush can transfer bacteria, contributing to gum disease. Maintaining good oral hygiene can help reduce the risk of spreading harmful bacteria.
Can smoking make gum disease worse?
Yes, smoking is one of the biggest risk factors for gum disease. It weakens the immune system, making it harder for the body to fight infections. Smokers are more likely to develop gum disease, and their condition may progress more quickly than in non-smokers. Quitting smoking can greatly improve gum health and help prevent further damage.
Can children get gum disease?
Yes, children can develop gum disease, though it is less common than in adults. Poor oral hygiene, certain medical conditions, and genetics can contribute to gum problems in kids. Regular brushing, flossing, and dental check-ups help prevent gum disease in children. Bring your child to the office if they show gum inflammation or bleeding.
Can gum disease be cured?
Gingivitis, the early stage of gum disease, can be reversed with proper care and professional treatment. However, once gum disease progresses to periodontitis, it cannot be completely cured but can be managed. Regular dental visits, good oral hygiene, and specialized treatments help control the disease and prevent further damage.
What happens if gum disease is left untreated?
If left untreated, gum disease can progress and cause serious damage to the gums and supporting structures of the teeth. Over time, it can lead to gum recession, loose teeth, and bone loss. In severe cases, teeth may fall out or require extraction. Gum disease has also been linked to other health problems, including heart disease, diabetes, and respiratory infections.
How can I prevent gum disease from coming back?
To prevent gum disease from returning, maintain good oral hygiene by brushing twice daily, flossing daily, and using an antibacterial mouthwash. Regular dental check-ups and professional cleanings help remove plaque and tartar buildup. Avoid smoking, eat a healthy diet, and manage conditions like diabetes that can increase your risk of gum disease.
Improve Your Gum Health
Do you think you may have gum disease? Contact Vista Ridge Family Dentistry in Cedar Park, TX, for periodontal disease treatment. Schedule a dental appointment online or call 512-866-9654.
Let us know if you have any questions about emerging symptoms or care options. We’re here to help.
