Gum disease, also called periodontal disease, is a common dental problem that affects many people. It can range from mild to serious, depending on how early it’s caught and treated. The good news is that if gum disease is treated early, it’s much easier to manage. Early treatment can help stop the disease from getting worse and protect your teeth and gums from long-term damage. At Horizon Family Dental Care, we provide complete periodontal disease treatment in Baltimore, MD.
Our dentsits are here to help you get your oral health back on track. Whether you have early signs or more advanced symptoms, our team is here to provide the care you need.
The Importance of Healthy Gum Tissue
When people think about good oral health, they usually think about brushing their teeth, flossing, and visiting the dentist. While those things are very important, many people forget to take care of another key part of their mouth, their gums.
Your gums, also called gingivae, do more than just sit around your teeth. They cover the jawbone and the roots of your teeth, acting like a shield that protects the deeper parts of your mouth from harmful bacteria. Healthy gum tissue helps prevent infections and keeps your teeth in place.
Healthy gums are firm, pink, and fit snugly around each tooth. When your gums are healthy, they support your teeth and keep your smile strong.
If your gums become infected or start to pull away from your teeth, you can lose the support they provide. This can lead to loose teeth or even tooth loss. Gum health also affects your whole body. Studies show that gum disease is linked to other health problems like heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. That’s why keeping your gums healthy is not just about your mouth, it’s about your overall well-being.
What is Periodontal Disease?
Gum disease is a condition that affects the gum tissues that protect and surround the teeth. The soft tissues become inflamed and infected because plaque accumulates on the teeth and gums, especially along the gum line.
Plaque is a sticky film loaded with bacteria that constantly forms in your mouth. If you don’t remove the plaque brushing, flossing, and getting professional cleanings, the bacteria will attack the gums.
Periodontal disease also has several risk factors that can influence the development and severity of the condition. Understanding these factors can help you prevent or manage your gum disease. The main risk factors are:
- Poor oral hygiene habits
- Smoking or using any kind of tobacco
- Genetics
- Age (older people have a higher risk of gum disease)
- Diet lacking in essential nutrients
- Hormonal changes during puberty, pregnancy, menstruation, and menopause
- Chronic stress
- Diabetes
- Certain medications
- Systemic diseases that affect the immune system
Symptoms of gum disease can include:
- Red, swollen, or tender gums
- Bleeding gums, especially during brushing or flossing
- Bad breath (halitosis) or bad taste in mouth
- Receding gums, making teeth appear longer
- Formation of pockets between the teeth and gums
- Changes in bite alignment
- Loose or shifting teeth
- Changes in the way dentures fit
Contact our office as soon as you notice a change in how your gums feel. Waiting too long can allow gum disease to get worse, which can lead to more serious dental problems like tooth loss or bone damage.
At Horizon Family Dental Care, our dentists will carefully examine your gums and find the right treatment based on the stage of your gum disease. We’ll create a personalized plan to help heal your gums. The sooner you get help, the easier it is to treat gum disease and prevent lasting damage.
The Stages of Gum Disease
Gum disease is a progressive condition. When we diagnose gum disease, we’ll begin treatment right away. Without care, gum disease can lead to serious problems like permanent damage to the gums and jawbone. We’ll customize periodontal disease treatment in our Baltimore, MD dentist office based on your gum disease stage.
Gingivitis
Gingivitis is the first and mildest stage of gum disease. At this point, you might not even know there’s a problem because the symptoms are often small or easy to miss. Signs of gingivitis include red and swollen gums, bad breath, and gums that bleed when brushing or flossing
The good news is that gingivitis is reversible. With daily brushing and flossing and regular cleanings at the dentist, your gums can return to a healthy state.
Mild Periodontitis
If gingivitis is left untreated, it can progress to mild periodontitis. At this stage, the gum inflammation worsens and begins to spread below the gum line. Harmful bacteria begin to form small pockets between your teeth and gums.
These pockets trap more bacteria and plaque, making it harder to clean your teeth and allowing the infection to spread deeper. At this point, you need professional dental treatment to stop the disease from getting worse.
Moderate Periodontitis
Without treatment, the condition becomes moderate periodontitis. The pockets between the teeth and gums grow deeper and fill with more bacteria. The infection starts to damage the tooth roots and the bone that supports your teeth.
You can feel more serious symptoms, such as increased bleeding and discomfort. You may also notice gum recession (gums pulling away from the teeth) and loose teeth. Moderate gum disease requires more advanced dental care to keep it in check. Our dentists will recommend regular deep gum cleanings every 3 to 4 months to treat reoccurring symptoms.
Advanced Periodontitis
This is the most serious stage of gum disease. By this time, the infection has caused significant damage to the gums, bones, and tissues that hold your teeth in place. You may experience:
- Shifting or loose teeth
- Pain while chewing
- Tooth loss
- Deep gum pockets
- Visible bone loss on dental X-rays
Advanced gum disease often requires surgery or specialized treatments to try to save your teeth. In some cases, we may need to remove affected teeth. Then we’ll recommend replacement options like dental implants once we treat your severe gum infection.
Gum Disease Treatment in Baltimore, MD
At Horizon Family Dental Care, we offer effective treatment for gum disease at every stage. The earlier we treat it, the easier it is to manage and reverse the damage. Our main goals are to stop the infection, reduce uncomfortable symptoms, and protect your natural teeth and gums.
- Professional Dental Cleaning: If you have early signs of gum disease, we recommend visiting us for a routine cleaning. One of our registered dental hygienists will remove excess plaque and tartar from your teeth and below the gum line. Removing harmful bacteria can reduce the risk of spreading and can reverse early symptoms.
- Deep Gum Cleaning: Scaling and root planing goes beyond the surface of your teeth. During scaling, we remove bacterial buildup beneth the gums. Then, during root planing, we deep clean around your tooth roots to help the roots stay attached to the gums. This deep gum cleaning helps your gums heal and reduces the size of the pockets where bacteria grow.
- Medications: Our dentist may prescribe medication to help control the infection. This might include antibiotics or special antimicrobial rinses. These medications can be taken by mouth or applied directly to the infected areas in your gums to reduce bacteria and speed up healing. We may also place antibiotics in the gum pockets after scaling and root planing.
- Surgical Procedures: In more advanced cases, you may require a surgical procedure or grafting. This may include flap surgery, pocket reduction surgery, bone graft, or gum tissue graft. If you require any of these, we’ll refer you to a local oral surgeon or periodontist.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have concerns about your gum health or periodontal disease, we’re here to help. We’ve compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions about periodontal disease to help people gain a better understanding. Whether you’re dealing with first signs of gum disease or just want to know more, we can help you get your questions answered.
How do I know if I have gum disease?
You may have gum disease if you have some of the obvious symptoms such as red, sore, or swollen gums. Gums that easily bleed when you brush or floss is also a sign of the disease. Bad breath, gum recession, and teeth that feel loose are also signs. Seeing a dentist for regular check-ups is the best way to know for sure.
Can gum disease be reversed?
Yes, our dentist can reverse gum disease if we catch it early. If you have gum inflammation, then brushing, flossing, and regular dental cleanings can be enough to stop your symptoms and heal your gums. But if it worsens and turns into periodontitis, our dentist cannot fully reverse the damage to the bone and gums. Seeing a dentist as soon as you notice symptoms is the best way to prevent serious problems.
Is periodontal disease contagious?
Gum disease isn’t contagious in the way a cold or flu is, but you can spread the bacteria that cause it. Sharing utensils, kissing, or using the same toothbrush can pass bacteria from one person to another. However, just having the bacteria doesn’t mean you’ll get gum disease. Making sure you brush, floss, and visit the dentist can eliminate harmful bacteria from your mouth.
Does gum disease cause bad breath?
Yes, gum disease can cause bad breath. When plaque and bacteria build up along the gum line, they create a bad smell. As the disease gets worse, infected gums can release toxins that make the odor stronger. If you have bad breath that doesn’t go away, you need to see our dentist.
Can gum disease affect my overall health?
Yes. The bacteria that leads to it can enter the bloodstream and increase your risk of heart disease, diabetes, and other health problems. It can also make existing conditions worse. Taking care of your gums can help protect your mouth and body from serious health issues.
Can smoking worsen periodontal disease?
Yes, smoking can make periodontal disease worse. It weakens your immune system, so your body has a harder time fighting off the infection as well. Smoking also prevents healing, so your gums may not heal after treatment. It can cause more bone and tooth loss in the long term. Quitting smoking and caring for your dental health can protect your gums and reduce the risk of other problems like chronic bad breath.
What is scaling and root planing, and does it hurt?
Scaling and root planing is like a more extensive teeth cleaning to treat gum disease. Our dentist removes plaque and tartar from below the gumline (scaling) and smooths the tooth roots (root planing) to help the gums heal.
Some people may feel a little discomfort during or after the procedure, especially if their gums are already sore or swollen from the infection. To make you more comfortable, we can use a local anesthetic to numb the area being treated. After the treatment, your gums might feel a bit sore or sensitive for a few days. You may also notice some tenderness when brushing or eating. This is normal and should go away as your gums start to heal.
Request a Consultation
You don’t have to live with painful and sensitive gums any longer. If you have gum disease, please schedule an appointment at Horizon Family Dental Care today. We offer periodontal disease treatment in Baltimore, MD to restore the health and comfort of your gums.