Gum Disease: Symptoms and Treatment
If your gums have been bleeding recently while you brush your teeth it is important to know that bleeding gums is one of the first signs of gum disease. There are two types of gum disease - gingivitis and periodontitis. Someone suffering from gingivitis or periodontitis has an increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis, pneumonia, and cancer. Early detection is crucial, so here is everything you need to know about gingivitis and periodontitis.
Gingivitis is the milder of the two. The infection is only in your gums. If you have periodontitis the infection has spread from your gums into your bone. Here are the symptoms of both:
Red, swollen gums: This is typically one of the first signs that your gums may have gum disease.
Bad breath: The bacteria in your mouth release toxins that can irritate your gums, mouth, and cause a terrible smell. This can also be a sign of periodontitis.
Gums that get smaller, receding gums
Sensitive teeth: That wince you feel when you drink something cold could be a sign of gum disease.
Wiggly or shifting teeth: Gum disease can attack the bones that keep your teeth in place causing them to move. Periodontitis is the main cause of shifting teeth.
Treatments
There are multiple routes for the treatment of gum disease. Your dentist will evaluate your case to determine the best course of action. Here are some treatments your dentist will consider:
Deep Cleaning
This is the first line of treatment for gum disease. A usual cleaning is above the gum line, but a deep cleaning is above and below the gum line. Your dentist may perform scaling, which is the scraping off of tartar from above and below the gum line. They may also perform root planing, which is when your dentist smoothes out the rough surface of the roots of your teeth.
Medications
Unfortunately, there is no magic pill that cures gum disease, but medication can assist in the overall treatment plan for your gum disease. Here are some options:
Antiseptic chip or antibiotic microspheres: These are tiny gel or particles that you will insert into pockets in your gums. They will release medication slowly over time to help shrink the pocket.
Antibiotic gels
Enzyme suppressant: This is a tablet you take after a deep cleaning to block certain enzymes in your mouth from breaking down gum tissue.
Oral antibiotics
Surgery
The next line of treatment after a deep cleaning is surgery. Your dentist may recommend:
Gum graft surgery: The surgeon will take tissue from an uninfected part of your mouth and cover any exposed tooth roots to prevent bone loss or decay.
Flap surgery: The surgeon lifts your gums to remove tartar that is deep underneath your gum line. Then they stitch your gum back in place, tightly around the roots to help prevent more tartar from forming.
If when you brush your teeth you’ve been noticing any blood, or if you’re suffering from any of the symptoms listed above it is important to make an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible. The sooner you receive treatment the better. Early treatment is crucial in preventing gingivitis from turning into periodontitis, and to preventing the deep damage periodontitis can cause.
For questions about gum health or if you suffer any of the symptoms listed above, contact Smiles by Bergen Dental and make an appointment. Smiles by Bergen Dental is conveniently located in Midland Park New Jersey, we're within minutes from Ridgewood, Wyckoff, Glen Rock, Paramus, Ramsey, Allendale, Saddle River, and Ho-Ho-Kus.
