Bella Smiles offers a full range of periodontal therapy services to treat gum disease at every stage. Gum disease is one of the leading causes of adult tooth loss. Without treatment, gum disease can increase your risk of developing serious oral health issues. These issues may affect the function, appearance, and health of your mouth.
During your preventive care exam, your Bella Smiles dentist will look at your teeth, mouth, and gums. He will spot any signs of dental problems including gum disease. Finding it and treating it early can lower your risk for damage to the teeth and gums. In addition to providing periodontal disease treatment, we provide restorative dentistry services in Long Island, NY.
Our dental care team will show you how to improve the health of your gums at home too. Maintaining healthy gums will help you keep a healthy mouth.
Signs of Gum Disease
Common signs of gum disease include:
- Bleeding gums
- Red, swollen or sore gums
- Receding Gums
- Loose teeth
- Mouth sores or pus between gums and teeth
- Bad breath (halitosis)
- Changes in the fit of dentures
Stages of Periodontal Disease
During the early stage of gum disease, most patients do not know they have it. However, an expert dentist can spot it during an exam of your teeth and gums. Gum disease is an infection of the gums that gets worse without treatment.
Gingivitis: Gingivitis is the early stage of gum disease. During this stage, patients may notice symptoms like bleeding gums, swollen gums, and bad breath. Treating gum disease in the earliest stage may reduce damage to the gums and teeth.
Periodontitis: Periodontitis is the most advanced stage of gum disease. During periodontitis, patients may experience symptoms like receding gums, halitosis, shifting teeth, and even tooth loss.
Treating Gum Disease with Non-surgical Periodontal Treatments
During your appointment, our dentist will perform a complete exam to see how bad your gum disease is and which stage it’s in. Our dentist will create a treatment plan based on your needs. The plan may include antibacterial rinses, scaling and root planing, and laser dentistry.
Antibacterial Rinse: For mild gum disease or persistent gingivitis, we will recommend using an at-home anti-bacterial rinse. The rinse will help you maintain healthy gums between visits. Dr. Pop may recommend using antibacterial rinses with other services to effectively treat the teeth and gums.
Scaling and Root Planing: This treatment method is an intensive dental cleaning that removes bacteria from the gums. Using special tools, our dental care team will scrape away plaque and tartar buildup. We will remove bacteria from the deep gum pockets where it forms. Removing the bacteria from the pockets in the early stages can help prevent gum recession and tooth loss.
Laser dentistry: Using state-of-the-art dental lasers, we can remove harmful gum disease-causing bacteria without the need for surgery, sutures, or long downtime in our dental office. Using dental lasers makes treating gum disease more effective and far less painful. A laser can remove diseased tissue and also stimulate healing to restore your gums back to health.
Gum Disease FAQs
Can I reverse gum disease?
Yes, gum disease is treatable and dentists can reverse the symptoms using dental treatments. Gum disease is easily treatable if you address it in the early stages of development. If you have gums that bleed regularly, visit our dentist for deep dental cleanings and a dental exam.
What can I expect after scaling and root planing?
You can expect your gums to be sore for a couple of days while they naturally heal and grow healthy soft tissue. Avoid eating spicy and acidic food after scaling and root planing for the later stages of gum disease. Your fresh gums will be sensitive to hot and cold foods for a short period.
How can I prevent gum disease from returning?
The easiest way to prevent gum disease from returning is to brush your teeth gently at least twice a day, use mouthwash every time, and floss! Your dentist may also prescribe an antibacterial rinse to accompany your oral health routine.