What Is Periodontal Disease?
Periodontal disease is a chronic infection that causes inflammation of the gums and soft tissues around your teeth. It usually results from plaque and tartar accumulation on the gum line, which irritates the gum tissues and causes inflammation. Other risk factors for gum disease include poor oral hygiene, misaligned teeth, smoking, diabetes, genetics, aging, and hormonal changes.
Early signs of periodontal disease, often referred to as gingivitis, include red, swollen gums, bleeding while brushing or flossing, and bad breath. Left untreated, periodontal disease can cause severe complications, such as gum recession, loose teeth, and even bone loss. Studies also show a connection between gum disease and serious health concerns like heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and even pregnancy complications.
How Is Periodontal Disease Treated?
If you are diagnosed with gum disease, Dr. Bakshi may recommend a deep dental cleaning known as scaling and root planing. The procedure involves removing plaque and tartar buildup from your teeth and below your gum line. We also clean and smooth the roots of your teeth to promote healing and make it harder for bacteria to accumulate once again.
Our dental hygienists are highly experienced and are known for their expertise and gentle approach to deep cleanings. We are also happy to offer a local anesthetic gel that helps numb your gums and ensure a more comfortable treatment experience.
What Is Periodontal Maintenance?
After scaling and root planing, it is important to keep up with periodontal maintenance visits, which we typically recommend every 3-4 months. The goal is to prevent gum disease progression and enhance your oral health.
During your appointments, we will thoroughly clean your teeth and gums, removing any new plaque and tartar buildup. We will also assess the health of your gums and provide guidance on good oral hygiene practices. These frequent check-ups are essential to prevent the progression of periodontal disease. Dr. Bakshi will recommend appropriate intervention as needed to maintain your gum health.
Can Gum Disease Be Fully Reversed?
Gingivitis, the early stage of gum disease, can often be reversed with the help of a deep dental cleaning and consistent oral hygiene at home. Keeping up with your twice-yearly dental exams and cleanings allows for early detection and treatment of gum inflammation, ensuring the best possible outcomes.
Once the gum infection progresses to a more advanced stage, known as periodontitis, it cannot be fully eliminated, but it can be effectively managed to prevent further damage. Scaling and root planing, coupled with meticulous oral hygiene care at home, can often prevent or slow the condition's progression, preventing its devastating impacts on your smile.
Warning Signs of Periodontal Disease
- Bleeding gums
- Red, swollen or tender gums
- Bad breath that doesn’t go away
- Loose or separating teeth
- Pus between your teeth
- A change in the way your teeth fit together
What Causes Gum Disease?
Gum disease usually starts as a result of poor oral hygiene. Improper or irregular brushing and flossing will allow bacteria to collect below the gum line. Smoking also contributes to a poor oral environment and accelerates the spread of bacteria in the mouth. Periodontal disease affects about 80% of U.S. adults and contributes to more tooth loss than cavities.
When we eat, bacteria mix with food and form a sticky film (plaque) on our teeth. Regular brushing and flossing will remove this film. However, just a couple of days can be enough for the plaque to harden into tartar. Removing tartar requires professional dental cleaning at our dental office in Western Springs, IL. Tartar also permits more bacteria to collect on the teeth, causing gum tissue and bone to inflame from the irritation.
Untreated gum tissue inflammation can cause bone loss that allows pockets to develop between the gums and teeth. As these pockets become deeper, more bacteria will fit and build up inside them. This will eventually destroy the gum tissue and bone that support the teeth. If too much bone is destroyed, the teeth will not be supported anymore and will fall out.
What Can I Do to Prevent Gum Disease?
A daily home care regimen is necessary to try to prevent periodontal disease in Western Springs, IL. Thoroughly brushing for two minutes twice a day and flossing every night will help keep bacteria under control. Flossing helps prevent cavities in Western Springs, IL in between the teeth and, when done correctly, cleans under the gum line, and helps fight gum disease.
Many people understand the correlation between tobacco use and lung disease, heart disease, and cancer. However, recent studies show a link between tobacco use and periodontal disease. We have found an increase of hard, tartar build-up, deeper gum pockets, and more bone loss in patients who use tobacco products. We encourage all of our patients to quit smoking to improve their overall health and quality of life!