Do you know the signs of gum disease? If not, you aren’t alone. Many people don’t know exactly what gum disease is, so they don’t notice when early gum disease symptoms develop in their own mouths. The earlier you catch the disease the easier it is to treat, so now is the time to learn about the symptoms of gum disease.

• If your gums are swollen, red and bleeding, you may have gum disease.
• Gum disease is caused by bacteria contained in the plaque that may build up around and below the gumline.
• When left untreated, many people will lose some or all of their teeth to gum disease.
• Sudbury Dental offers a variety of gum disease treatment options to restore your smile and save your natural teeth if possible.

What Is Gum Disease?

Gum disease is also known as periodontal disease. It’s characterized by inflammation and infection that impacts the gums, roots and bone structure that holds the teeth in place. It starts with plaque accumulation on the surface of the tooth and around the gumline. Bacteria in the plaque gets into the gums and causes an inflammatory response.

Signs and Symptoms of Gum Disease

Red, swollen gums are often the first signs of gum disease. If you don’t notice the problem, the gums will continue to swell until they become painful to touch. Eventually, they will start to bleed when you brush your teeth and floss. In the more advanced stages of periodontal disease, the gums may bleed without warning and without touch.

With time, periodontal disease will cause constant bad breath that doesn’t go away even with aggressive or frequent brushing. As pus pockets develop between the teeth and gums, the teeth start to loosen. The gums will start to recede, which may make some teeth look unusually long. Gaps may develop between some teeth as well.

When left untreated, many people will lose some or all of their teeth to gum disease. Even if you don’t lose your teeth, you may experience pain or discomfort when chewing. That’s a sign that the teeth are losing their strength due to a weakened support structure.

For the best treatment results, you should seek prompt dental treatment if you notice any of the early signs of gum disease:

• Red gums
• Swollen gums
• Bleeding gums

Treatment of Gum Disease

At Sudbury Dental, we treat every patient with the utmost care. We take the time to understand your medical history and to learn about your current gum disease symptoms. That includes a few questions to identify your gum disease risk factors, including cigarette smoking and diabetes.

After a thorough examination and possible diagnostic testing, we will determine the extent of periodontal disease present in your mouth. That allows us to create a personalized treatment plan designed to restore your beautiful smile as quickly and affordably as possible.

We do everything possible to save your natural teeth. Some of the gum disease treatment options commonly offered to periodontal patients include:

• Flap Surgery – This periodontal treatment separates the gums from the surface of the teeth. The gums are folded back to form a flap, exposing the roots and other tissue supporting the teeth. That allows a trained dentist or periodontist to remove inflamed or diseased tissue. Scaling and root planning are performed to remove plaque, and recontouring is sometimes used to smooth out the bone surface.
• Bone and Tissue Graft – This is an innovative gum disease treatment that allows a dentist to deposit bone mineral beneath your gum line. The body will then add bone cells to grow new, healthy bone to support the teeth. The dentist will clean out diseased tissue and all signs of plaque bacteria before depositing the grafting material.
• Laser Treatment – This is one of the newest developments in dental technology. A specially trained dentist or periodontist will use lasers to remove inflamed tissue and plaque surrounding the roots below the gumline. We can now achieve all of the benefits of periodontal surgery without a single incision in the gums.

The type of gum disease treatment that you receive will depend on a variety of personal factors. All of our periodontal disease services are tailored to the patient. We want you to feel comfortable smiling and eating your favorite foods again.

Preventing Gum Disease

We strongly recommend routine dental exams and cleanings for all patients. That prevents the buildup of plaque which can later lead to gum disease. Our team at Sudbury Dental of well-trained professionals will help you identify the early signs of gum disease, allowing you to start treatment before the stability and functionality of your teeth are threatened.

Our professional team will also help you develop a daily oral hygiene routine that protects your teeth and gums from bacteria, decay, and disease. With daily brushing and flossing, you can prevent gum disease or stop it from progressing if already present.

If you think you’re displaying the early signs of gum disease, contact us today. A thorough examination and cleaning is the first step to securing the gum disease treatment that you need to restore your smile and hopefully save your natural teeth.