Do your gums bleed when you brush your teeth? Are your gums tender or swollen? These are just a few of several signs of gum disease, and the main factor behind this is poor oral hygiene.
There are typically four stages of gum disease. The initial stages of gum disease are identified by the build-up of dental plaque along the gum line. Plaque is a pale sticky substance full of bacteria that coats your teeth, and progressively gets harder and forms into tartar if your teeth aren’t cleaned. At this stage, the dentist will need to treat gum disease to protect your teeth and bones.
What Are The Four Stages of Gum Disease?
If you suspect that you’re showing the signs, then a trip to the dentist is highly recommended to treat gum disease. Typically, there are four stages to gum disease.
- Gingivitis – The initial build-up of dental plaque and eventual bleeding gums are the key symptoms of gingivitis. The symptoms are painless and are easily reversible through dental cleanings.
- Slight Periodontal Disease – The second stage of gum disease where your gums and bone have contracted bacteria and have subsequently damaged your bones. At this stage, bone loss is likely, and the dentist would need to perform deep scaling and root planning treatment to remove bacterial deposits.
- Moderate Periodontal Disease – The third stage of gum disease is where the bacteria have room to attack your bones and gradually penetrate your bloodstream. It would require deep scaling and root planning treatment to clear the affected area.
- Advanced Periodontal Disease – The final stage of gum disease where your overall oral health is in danger and escalates ageing. Symptoms such as gum swelling, painful biting and chewing, loose teeth, bad breath and bone loss escalate quickly. If still left untreated, your gums will recede from their pockets, exposing the tooth root and potentially escalating serious health complications such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Why Should I Treat Gum Disease?
It is essential to treat gum disease to preserve the overall health of your teeth, gums and bones. Should you not treat it, your teeth and bones can become exposed to bacteria which will naturally lead to infection. When this happens, the gums will split from your teeth, meaning more space for bacteria to penetrate, and your teeth will likely begin to fall out.
What Are The Available Treatments For Gum Disease?
The treatment viable for you depends on the stage of gum disease. The following treatments will typically treat gum disease:
Professional Dental Clean
A professional dental clean involves scraping off plaque and tartar off your teeth and below the gumline. Any build-up is easily reversible but would require you to adopt strong oral hygiene steps such as brushing and flossing your teeth daily.
Scaling and Root Planing
The scaling and root planing procedure are known as deep cleaning, which is necessary if you’re showing signs of periodontal disease, meaning the pockets have grown between your teeth and gums owing to gum recession, a corridor for bacteria to continue to penetrate. The dentist will scrape tartar with an ultrasonic device that uses vibrations to remove plaque and tartar.
Pocket Reduction Surgery
Pocket reduction surgery involves folding back your gums and removing harmful bacteria between your gums and teeth, before reattaching the gums back in their rightful position.
Bone Graft
Bone grafting involves using transplanted bone to repair and rebuild damaged bone. This is necessary so that your teeth have the adequate support structure it needs to be firmly in place.
Get Treatment For Gum Disease Now…
If you’re showing signs of gum disease, this must get treated as soon as possible to avoid your oral health becoming gradually worse.
Gum health is vital for a strong and healthy smile. If you’re showing signs and you’re unsure of what to do next to treat gum disease, local dentist in Quakers Hill as soon as you can to get the best treatment advice.