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What is Gum Disease?
Gum (periodontal) disease is caused by plaque – bacteria that build up on your teeth and create toxins. These toxins affect the gum tissue and bones surrounding the teeth.
While it may be painless at first and grow very slowly, gum disease can have serious consequences. Not only could you suffer oral health issues like lost teeth, but because the health of your gums intersects with many other aspects of your physical health, this infection may increase your risk of heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Because of this, we mustn't allow it to progress to its more serious stages.
Types of Gum Disease
The two types of gum disease include:
Gingivitis
Gingivitis is a gum disease in its earliest stages. At this point, you may notice that your gums become swollen, red and a bit sensitive. You may also spot a bit of blood in your toothbrush or when you floss.
Periodontitis
Periodontitis is the more serious form of gum disease. At this stage, your gums recede and bacteria eventually fill pockets between gums and teeth. Light to moderate bone loss in the jaw can also happen.
Advanced Periodontitis
Your teeth will lose support as your gums, bone and periodontal ligaments break down as this disease advance. Moderate to sever bone loss in your jaw may occur and your teeth may become loose or even fall out entirely.
How to Maintain & Improve Gum Health
Though gum disease has scary outcomes, most cases are preventable with good oral hygiene and regular checkups. Here’s what you can do at home and how your dentist can help:
At Home
- Floss once per day
- Brush at least twice daily
- Rinse thoroughly with an alcohol-free anti-gingivitis mouthwash
- See your dentist regularly and let them know about any changes, gum sensitivity or soreness
What Your Dentist Can Do for Your Gums
Your dentist provides professional cleanings and tracks your oral health so any problems can be spotted early.
They’ll ask if you’ve noticed any changes or sensitivity in your gums, whether you’ve been following your regular oral care routine, and whether can answer questions about oral hygiene and care.
Treatments for Gum Disease
At Duggan Dental, we offer a variety of options to help you maintain healthy gums, and prevent and treat gum disease:
Preventive Hygiene
To treat early-stage gum disease, we recommend frequent hygiene appointments, deep cleanings and specialized home care routines.
Gum Grafts
This surgical procedure thickens gums and protects against the damaging effects of gum recession and can help to adjust the appearance of your smile.
Pinhole Gum Rejuvenation Surgery
The Chao Pinhole® Surgical Technique is a scalpel-free, suture-free option for treating gum recession. A dentist uses a needle to make a small hole in the patient’s existing gum tissue, through which they use special instruments to gently loosen the gum tissue. The gumline is gently adjusted to cover the exposed root structure.
Teeth & Gum Contouring
These cosmetic procedures can help to improve your smile's overall aesthetics. Tooth contouring involves the use of a dental drill to shave away tooth materials and reshape chips, unevenness and poor alignment in teeth while removing excess gum tissue to contour or lift gums.