Periodontal treatments prevent and treat gum disease for your oral health

Eliminate Gum Disease For A Healthy Smile 

Gum disease is a serious condition that may lead to severe oral health issues including tooth loss if a periodontal infection is left untreated. Since early stages of gum disease often have no noticeable symptoms, it is crucial to maintain your oral health with regular dental cleanings and examinations. At Open Wide La Jolla  in San Diego, CA  Dr. Chad Dains provides comprehensive periodontal disease treatment to address and prevent gum disease, as well as prepare patients for restorative treatments.

What is Gum Disease?

Gum disease is an infection that gradually erodes the tissue of the gums – and is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. Protecting your gums with proper oral hygiene and regular checkups can improve your gum health, but if you suspect gum disease, it’s time to call the gum disease and treatment specialists at Open Wide La Jolla. 

Signs of Gum Disease

Gum disease often develops silently. Many people don’t even realize they have a problem until it has already progressed. The best way to avoid gum disease is to have regular cleanings and checkups with a dentist skilled in recognizing the early signs. Keeping an eye out for the common symptoms can help you determine when it’s time to get help. 

Gum disease can cause any of the following symptoms: 

• Gum Swelling or Tenderness: noticeable or uncomfortable swelling in the gums; tenderness to the touch or while eating. 
• Red or Inflamed Gums: gums that appear red, especially around the gumline, as well as painful inflammation. Remember: gums should be firm and pink.
• Bleeding when Brushing or Flossing: bleeding is a common sign of plaque and tartar buildup on the surface of the tooth, which causes the gumline to become sensitive and prone to bleeding.  
• Receding Gums: Gum lines that are withdrawing can cause teeth to appear longer can be a result of plaque on the teeth – the gums begin receding to avoid irritation. 
• Change in Bite: Gum disease can cause teeth to shift or become loose, which ultimately changes the familiar “bite” pattern. 
• Loose Teeth: Again, your gums are the foundation your teeth are set into – when your gums are unhealthy, teeth can become loose, shift, and even fall out.

What Causes Gum Disease?

Gum disease is caused by poor oral hygiene, resulting from a buildup of plaque on the teeth from not consistently brushing and flossing. When plaque is left on the tooth for too long, the acids and bacteria in the plaque cause irritation in the gum tissue. This will inevitably lead to infection of the gum tissue, which progresses through two distinct phases: gingivitis and periodontitis. 

Gingivitis  

Gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease. Gum irritation has set in, and the gum responds by becoming red, swollen, and tender. Bleeding isn’t uncommon during brushing or flossing.

The best treatment is prevention – scheduling regular cleanings and checkups, maintaining good oral hygiene, and cutting down on acidic and sugary foods. If you already suspect gingivitis, it’s important to begin treatment right away. This can include professional cleaning, oral rinses, topical antiseptics and a reminder to keep up good oral hygiene practices. 

Periodontitis  

Untreated gingivitis will progress into periodontitis. While gingivitis is an uncomfortable and sometimes painful disease, development of periodontitis causes severe pain and damage. Even worse, periodontitis cannot be reversed – only slowed down.

Periodontitis occurs when the gum begins to pull away from the tooth in an attempt to escape the irritation caused by acids and bacteria in plaque. Receding gums create pockets between the gums and the teeth, which collect plaque and debris. It’s a vicious cycle – the gums recede further to avoid irritation, which causes, in turn, more irritation and more recession. 

Over time, the bacteria and acid in plaque will destroy the gums and, eventually, the alveolar bone (which holds the tooth sockets) and jawbone. This will lead to infection, tooth loss, pain, and can even result in heart and lung diseases. 

Treatment of Gum Disease

Gum disease treatment options range depending on the severity of the individual case. 

All of these treatment options are available from Open Wide La Jolla. Talk to our skilled team and Dr. Dains, the Open Wide La Jolla gum disease and treatment specialist. We use state-of-the-art equipment and advanced techniques to restore gums. 

• Professional Dental Cleanings: Scheduling regular cleanings and checkups helps detect gum disease early, and reverse the effects of gingivitis.
• Scaling and Root Planing: This is a two-part deep cleaning process. Scaling is the process of removing  plaque and tartar trapped beneath the gum line. Root planing then smooths out the root of the tooth, encouraging the gums to reattach to the tooth.
• Laser Gum Therapy: Laser gum therapy works in conjunction with other treatment options. It removes inflamed gum tissue from around the root of your tooth, and then smooths the tooth to prevent bacteria buildup. 
• Pocket Reduction: Reducing and eliminating the places for bacteria to hide is an effective treatment method against gum disease. 
• Gum Lifts: Where a receding gum line will be restored to cover the teeth.

Your gums may not be front-and-center when you smile, but they are the foundation for strong teeth and overall oral health. 

Take the offensive approach against gum disease, and schedule a visit with Dr. Dains and the team at Open Wide La Jolla today.