Gum Disease Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Gum disease is more prevalent than people think. Poor oral care habits combined with a lack of professional cleaning can easily result in tooth decay, infections, and periodontal disease. At Monadnock Perio & Implant Center, Keene, New Hampshire, we specialize in gum disease treatment. If you’re worried about the health of your gums and teeth, contact our practice for an examination to see if you have the beginnings of gum disease.

What is gum disease?

Gum disease is a severe gum infection that can damage gum tissue, destroy the bone structure, and cause loss of permanent teeth. Gum disease generally starts as gingivitis, characterized by swollen gums or bleeding gums when you brush your teeth. Gingivitis is a warning sign that you’re not taking adequate care of your teeth. Gingivitis can escalate into periodontal disease if left untreated, putting you at risk of losing permanent teeth. Through gum disease treatment, Drs. Tae Kwon and Rahul Tase can help curtail the spread of periodontal disease to save your natural teeth.

Causes of gum disease

Plaque buildup on your teeth is the leading cause of gum disease. Poor oral care habits can lead to plaque accumulation on and around your teeth. When plaque isn’t removed correctly, it hardens into tartar or calculus around the base of your teeth. Bacteria from tartar buildup can lead to tooth infections and gum disease.

Additional factors that can affect gum health and lead to gum disease are:

• Hormonal changes caused by puberty, menstrual cycle, pregnancy, or menopause
• Smoking
• Certain medications and diseases
• Age
• Poor diet and
• Genetics

Gum disease symptoms

In the early stages, you may not notice symptoms of gum disease. That’s why it’s crucial to have routine checkups. Routine dental care allows your dentist to monitor your oral health and detect problems early on. Early diagnosis and treatment of gum disease can help protect and preserve your teeth. Some common symptoms of gum disease are:

• Bleeding gums after brushing
• Swollen or receding gums
• Constant problems with bad breath
• Development of pockets in between teeth and gums
• Loose or shifting teeth
• Changes in your bite due to teeth shifting

How to treat periodontal disease

Gum disease treatment entails scaling your teeth to remove plaque and tartar buildup above and below the gum line and keep the disease from spreading. Root planing smooths the rough surfaces where bacteria breeds. If you have a tooth infection, oral or topical antibiotics will be prescribed to heal your infection and prevent further damage to your gums and teeth.

Advanced periodontal disease may require dental surgery for treatment. Flap surgery entails cutting and lifting the gum back to scale and plane the roots of infected teeth. An alternatively, a minimally invasive laser therapy can be utilized instead of flap surgery (i.e. Laser assisted periodontal regenerative therapy, aka LANAP). Gum grafts help replace lost gum tissue. Additional treatments and follow-up cleanings may be recommended to restore tooth and gum health completely. We’ll also discuss ways to improve your oral health at home to prevent future problems with gum disease.

To learn more about gum disease causes, symptoms, and treatment or to schedule a consultation to diagnose and treat gum disease, contact the team at Monadnock Perio & Implant Center in Keene, NH, at (603) 215-5800.

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