Good oral health is vital to our overall well-being. That’s why our guardians teach us basic oral hygiene skills at a young age. They tell us to brush twice daily, floss at least once daily, and, if recommended by a dentist, rinse our mouths with fluoride mouthwash. But as we grow into adults and take on more responsibilities, sometimes our oral health gets pushed aside. Perhaps work is taking a toll on you, or you’re overwhelmed with additional responsibilities. Over time, you start brushing once daily and forget to floss a few days of the week. You don’t think much about it until you notice blood in the sink when brushing or flossing. This may be a sign that you have gum disease. But it doesn’t end with blood in the sink; if left untreated, gum disease can escalate to extensive tooth loss.
At Dr. Keider’s office, we value educating patients on oral health. So, let’s discuss gum disease, its symptoms, and how to address it effectively.
What Is Gum Disease?
Gum disease is a general term for conditions that affect the gums. The earliest stage is called gingivitis, which involves inflammation and irritation of the gum tissue. If left untreated, it can progress to periodontal disease—an advanced stage where the infection spreads to the deeper structures supporting the teeth. These structures include the periodontal ligaments, bones, and connective tissue that support the teeth. Periodontitis is a term used to refer to the severe form of periodontal disease.
In the early stages of gum disease, you’ll notice mild inflammation of the gums. This inflammation happens because of a buildup of plaque at the gumline. Plaque buildup occurs from a lack of flossing, as floss can access the hard-to-reach spaces between the teeth and along the gumline. Other symptoms include red and bleeding gums. At this stage, no damage to the supporting bone or tissue has occurred yet.
Proper oral hygiene and professional dental care can reverse gingivitis. However, if it goes unaddressed, it can progress to the advanced stages of periodontitis. At this point, your gums start to pull away from the teeth, forming pockets that accumulate bacteria. This leads to damage to the supporting bone and soft tissue and can even lead to tooth loss.
If you’re experiencing the symptoms of gum disease, you’re not alone. Roughly half of all adults in the U.S. aged 30+ have periodontitis. That’s why it’s so important to spread the wealth of knowledge on gum disease and how to treat it effectively.
What Are the Treatment Options?
Treatment for gum disease varies from deep cleanings and, if necessary, surgical care. The specific treatment depends on the progression of the disease, so it’s important you visit Dr. Keider for a consultation.
In its earlier stages, a professional dental cleaning is more than enough to remove the plaque buildup. If it has progressed to forming deep pockets, you’ll require a deep cleaning with scaling and root planing. Scaling involves removing the plaque and tartar buildup from the surfaces of your teeth, specifically below the gumline, where neither a toothbrush nor floss can reach. Root planing comes after scaling. This is when Dr. Keider decreases bacterial accumulation to help the gums reattach to the teeth.
Scaling and root planing have immense benefits. This treatment stops the progression of the disease, encourages the gums to reattach to the teeth, and prevents tooth loss. Plus, scaling and root planing fight persistent bad breath and make it easier to keep your teeth and gums clean.
In some cases, Dr. Keider sees patients who have experienced significant bone or tissue loss, at which point surgical intervention is required.
Surgical Options for Gum Disease
Left unaddressed, gum disease can erode the jawbone. At this point, Dr. Keider may have to conduct a bone graft to regenerate lost bone. He also offers soft tissue grafting, which repairs and restores gum tissue that has receded or been damaged. This procedure involves taking healthy tissue from one area of the mouth and attaching it to places where the gums are insufficient. It helps protect your teeth from additional damage and improves the overall appearance of your gums.
In more severe cases, Dr. Keider offers flap surgery with bone grafts. Flap surgery is a gum surgery in which Dr. Keider creates small incisions in the gums to fold back the gum tissue. This allows him to access deep pockets of infection. After the flap surgery, Dr. Keider will place the bone graft material in the areas of bone loss.
Regardless of what stage you’re in, we advise you to take action and address your oral health immediately.
Take Control of Your Wellbeing Today—Book an Affordable Consultation!
While gum disease is preventable, we understand the hustle and bustle of life can get in the way of your oral health. Whether you’ve noticed blood in the sink or persistent bad breath, Dr. Keider and our team are here to help guide you to better oral health. If you need a deep cleaning or surgery, Dr. Keider can help. He provides compassionate care for all his patients. His primary goal is to save your natural teeth and give you the treatment plan you deserve.
Don’t put your oral health on the back burner any longer. Book a consultation today to learn how we can help you achieve better and stronger oral health.
