Gum Disease: What Causes It and How Can You Get Rid of It?

Although most of us brush and floss teeth daily, plaques can still creep in and build up. They eventually harden and house bacteria that can cause gum infection. Leaving the tartar on the gum line causes the disease to advance and also affects the teeth. It is, therefore, crucial to get gum treatment in Port Hueneme on time to prevent the advancement of the disease.

What is Gum Disease?

Gum or periodontal disease develops in stages starting with gingivitis, the inflammation of the gums. Although gingivitis precedes periodontitis (advanced gum disease), not all gingivitis leads to the disease. If caught early, a dentist near you can start the treatment and reverse the infection.

The problem with gingivitis is that it is a silent disease and rarely shows any symptoms, which makes it easy to go unnoticed.

Periodontitis is a relatively dangerous disease as it leads to the formation of gum pockets. These tiny spaces between the teeth can collect debris and bacteria. As the infection advances, the teeth will become weak, and the supporting bone will deteriorate.

What Cause the Gum Disease?

Plaque accumulation is the primary cause of periodontal disease. But, other factors contribute to gum disease, and they include:

• Hormone imbalance makes the gums more sensitive, making it easy for gingivitis to develop.
• Illness and compromised immunity
• Certain medications can affect your oral health by reducing the flow of saliva
• Bad habits like smoking
• Poor dental hygiene
• Family history of gum disease

How Can You Tell You Have Gum Infection?

As the gum infection advances, you will begin to notice symptoms like:

• Red and swollen gums are the first sign of gum infection as the bacteria causes inflammation on the gum line. The gums may also feel tender or painful, and you may notice gum bleeding when you floss.
• Bad breath. This is caused by plaque buildup and bacteria that release toxins. These toxins not only irritate the gums but also produce a foul smell.
• Receding of the gums, which may make the teeth look longer than usual
• Teeth sensitivity occurs when the gum recede and expose the roots of the teeth
• Wiggly or loose teeth. The bacteria can attack the supporting bone that holds the teeth, which makes the teeth loosen.

How Can You Get Rid of the Infection?

The goal of the gum infection is to control the infection and stop it from spreading to the surrounding tissues. Our dentist in 93041 will examine your gums and teeth to check the severity of the gum disease to choose a suitable treatment.

The treatments that you can use include:

1. Deep cleaning

This is the first line of gum disease treatment as it removes accumulated tartar. Unlike regular cleaning, the dentist will also clean under the gum line. Scaling is also part of the treatment, and it involves scraping off tartar along the gums.

Part of the deep cleaning is root planning, which is the process of smoothening the rough surfaces of the roots and reattaching the gums on the teeth, thereby reducing the gum pockets.

2. Medication

Our dentist in Port Hueneme will prescribe different medications from pills to creams to address the gum infection. He may recommend antiseptic mouthwash, gels, enzyme suppressants, and oral antibiotics.

3. Grafting procedures

The receding of the gums can cause other problems like tissue and bone loss. To rectify the problem, the dentist may recommend grafting procedures.

• Tissue graft

Tissue grafting is the use of a small amount of tissue matter from the palate. The dentist will reattach the tissue on the affected area and stimulate new growth. This will help to close the gaps between and also restore the size of the gum.

• Bone graft

The bone grafting procedure uses bone granules from your body or synthetic bone to generate new bone growth.

4. Flap surgery

Flap surgery reduces the gum pockets. The dentist will lift the gums, clean and reattach them back in place. Bone contouring may also be done to smoothen the teeth and close any tiny cracks.

Schedule an Appointment

Visit All Care Dental by the Sea for more information about gum disease, how it is treated, and prevented.