What is Gum Disease?

Gum disease Therapy at Marin Contemporary Periodontics and Implant Concepts occurs when the tissues that hold your teeth in place become infected. If diagnosed and treated early, gum disease can typically be cured and prevented, provided you schedule regular periodontal exams and practice good oral hygiene habits on a daily basis. If left untreated, gum disease can cause permanent damage to your oral health and may result in the loss of teeth and deterioration of tissue and bone.

Gum disease is often identified during a regular dental checkup, which you should have at least every six months. If you do not schedule regular checkups, it is important to be observant of common indications of gum disease, which include receded gums, gums that are swollen, red or tender gums, gums that bleed easily, loosened teeth, and chronic halitosis. If you notice any of these common symptoms of gum disease, schedule an appointment for an observation as soon as possible.

Stages of Gum Disease

Gum disease is a progressive condition, which is why it is important to diagnose and treat the issue as soon as possible.  During the early stage of gum disease (gingivitis), gum disease typically presents as gums that are mildly irritated, red, or swollen and bleed easily when brushing or flossing. At this early stage, gum disease can typically be treated with a deep cleaning from your dentist or periodontist along with modifications to your oral health routine. This may include modifying your diet by avoiding starchy or sugary foods and beverages, using a fluoride toothpaste, and scheduling more frequent checkups and cleanings. If gum disease is treated during this stage, it can often be reversed.

If gum disease is not treated during this early stage, plaque remaining on the teeth will mineralize and turn into calculus. Once gum disease progresses to this stage (periodontitis or advanced periodontitis), symptoms will increase in severity, and may result in significantly receded gums, loosened teeth, or teeth that fall out. If gum disease reaches this level, gum disease may be cured by performing a scaling and root planing procedure, which involves using special dental instruments that can remove plaque that has mineralized onto the surface of your teeth and below your gum line. Once the tartar is removed, the surfaces of the tooth are smoothed using a planing tool, which inhibits the ability of bacteria to accumulate in the future. While scaling and root planing can be a successful cure for gum disease, more severe cases may require advanced treatments, such as dental bone grafts, tooth extractions, and/or dental implants.

Risk Factors

Although everyone is at risk of developing gum disease, there are certain factors that significantly increase your risk, the most common being poor or infrequent oral hygiene habits and neglecting to schedule regular dental exams. Additional factors that can increase your risk of gum disease include:

• Tobacco use
• Diabetes
• Certain medications
• Genetic predisposition
• Pregnancy
• Malocclusion

If you are concerned that you have gum disease or have been diagnosed with gum disease in the past, it is important to schedule an appointment as soon as possible to determine treatment options and lifestyle changes you can make to correct the issue and preserve your oral health.

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