What Are the Treatments for Gum Disease?

If you have or suspect you have gum disease, it is important to see a dentist as soon as you can. Although this is an infection, not seeking help quickly could make it worse. Fortunately, a dental professional can offer several options. Regardless, the goal is to get rid of the disease and return to a healthy mouth.

The definition of gum disease

In the world of dentistry, professionals often refer to gum disease as Periodontitis. Initially, the problem consists of bacterial growth inside the mouth. If treated early, there is no other risk. On the other hand, not seeing a dentist can lead to damaged tissue and bone, as well as tooth loss. In simple terms, gums disease is an infection involving the gums.

Types of gum disease

Many people are unaware that there are different forms of gum disease. The mildest is Gingivitis. With this, a person’s gums become inflamed and swollen. In fact, the gums tend to bleed easily, especially when brushing. The most obvious sign of this is bad breath.

Unless a person has Gingivitis treated, it can easily turn into Periodontitis. As mentioned, this is an infection caused by the bacteria in plaque. As the gums become red and swollen, they can eventually pull away from the teeth. Without the needed support, an individual could have teeth loosen or even fall out. As for Periodontitis, there are different degrees, including aggressive, chronic and necrotizing.

Viable treatment options

Regardless of how severe a person’s gum disease is, the right dental professional can help. Every dentist has the same goal in mind: bringing the infection under control. To accomplish that, a dental professional will perform a deep cleaning that goes underneath the gumline. As part of that, it is common for a patient to have a procedure done known as scaling. That involves scraping tartar off, above and below the gums.

If required, the dentist can also do a procedure called root planing. This helps to smooth out the roots of the teeth. As a result, the gums can easier attach to the tooth. Depending on the patient and the severity of the gum disease, this may require more than one treatment session.

Another way to treat gum disease is with medication. In most instances, the dentist prescribes antibiotics in conjunction with performing one or more of the procedures mentioned. Instead of pills, many dentists use antibiotic microspheres. The dental professional inserts these tiny gels into the pockets of the gum. That allows the medication to release slowly and more directly.

In the worst cases of gum disease, surgery may end being the ultimate treatment. A dentist will first go through the procedures mentioned. However, if there is no or very little improvement, the patient might need to have flap or gum graft surgery performed. This treatment is always the last option since the others typically work well.

Seeking help for gum disease

If you notice bad breath, swollen and inflamed gums or they start to bleed when brushing and eating, contact your dentist. If you have gum disease, they will discuss the appropriate treatment at the time of having an examination. As mentioned, the key is to seek help quickly. The longer you wait, the worse things could become.

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