One of the last things you want to hear your dentist say is that you have gum disease. The silver lining, though, is that it is preventable. You don’t have to become part of the 9% of adults with severe gum disease or even the 50% that have signs of the disease.
Gum disease starts when you don’t brush or floss well enough or regularly. Bacteria begin to build up in your mouth and if not corrected, the bacteria cause redness, swelling, and pain in your gums, leading to tooth loss as the condition worsens. And it is totally preventable.
In this article, we will clearly define and describe gum disease, its symptoms, its treatment, and specific tips for preventing it. Keep reading so you don’t have to become a statistic.
What Is Gum Disease?
Gum disease is an infection of the tissues surrounding your teeth. In its mildest form, it is referred to as gingivitis. As the disease progresses, it is called periodontitis.
The gum tissue becomes infected and the teeth become unstable, so it’s easy to understand how important the tissues are. A solid regimen of brushing and flossing from an early age prevents this disease because bacteria is removed daily and isn’t allowed to build up on the teeth. However, if oral hygiene is neglected, a sticky layer of bacteria hardens on the teeth and spreads from there. It only takes 72 hours for bacteria to turn into a harder substance called plaque and then tartar. The bones surrounding the teeth become affected and the teeth may eventually need to be removed or they may loosen and fall out. At this point, of course, pain is present, too.
Anyone can develop gum disease, but data indicates periodontitis is significantly higher in 70- to 81-year-old subjects. Older adults today are keeping their teeth much longer than in the past, so this is not surprising. Especially when we also take into account other difficulties older people face like decreased flexibility in their hands for brushing and flossing, greater challenges with transportation to get to the dentist, and lower income to pay for treatment. This all supports prevention as the most important way to deal with gum disease.
Symptoms of Gum Disease
We have outlined some of the symptoms of gum disease in its description, but some signs are hard to spot. Here is a complete list of warning signs of gum disease:
- Bleeding when you brush your teeth.
- Swelling and redness in the gums.
- Painful, tender gums to touch.
- Persistent bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth.
- Chewing becomes painful when eating.
- Sensitive teeth.
- Pus is visible between the teeth.
- Gums begin to pull away from the teeth.
- Loose teeth or teeth that fall out.
- Black triangles between your teeth.
- Your teeth fit together differently when you bite down.
Some people are at higher risk of gum disease. Be especially diligent with your daily oral hygiene if any of the following apply to you:
- If you are experiencing hormone changes due to pregnancy, puberty, or menopause, your gums will be more susceptible to the early stages of gum disease.
- If you have been diagnosed with cancer, HIV, or diabetes, you are at increased risk of all infections, including periodontal disease.
- You take medicine for conditions like chest pain (angina) or seizures. These reduce the production of saliva that protects your teeth and gums.
- You are a smoker. Smoking prevents the gum tissue from repairing itself.
- You have a family history of dental disease.
If you experience any of the above symptoms or are at higher risk for gum disease, call your dentist right away for an appointment. Your dentist will examine your teeth and the hygienist will most likely clean them thoroughly.
When serious gum disease symptoms are evident to your dentist, they may refer you to a gum specialist called a periodontist. This specialist will carry out more tests to determine the extent and suggest treatment. Remember that these professionals are anxious to help you, so don’t let fear or embarrassment stop you from seeking help.
Gum Disease Treatment
The treatment for gum disease focuses on stopping the damage already done and improving the condition of the gums. The dentist or periodontist will recommend a plan based on:
- How far the disease has progressed.
- What treatments have been tried (if any).
- Your overall health.
- Whether you smoke.
Treatment may be non-surgical or surgical, depending on the progression of the disease.
Nonsurgical Options
A mild progression of the disease can often be controlled with options that don’t involve surgery. The goal is to control bacteria, and some of the techniques used include:
- Tooth scaling: Scaling is a deep dental cleaning that reaches under the gums. Tartar, plaque, and bacteria are removed from the teeth by a dental hygienist.
- Planing: Root planing makes it harder for bacteria and plaque to collect under the gums and it helps the gums reattach to the teeth.
- Antibiotic treatment: An antibiotic mouth rinse, gel, or pills are prescribed to rid the gums of the bacteria that leads to infection.
Gum Disease Surgery
In more extreme cases, surgery focuses on repairing the gum tissue that supports the teeth. Advanced periodontitis may require one of these surgical options:
- Gum flap surgery: Flap surgery removes any plaque deep under your gums. Small cuts are made in your gum, bacteria, plaque, and tartar are cleaned out, and rough spots on the bone are smoothed out. The cuts are closed with stitches to reattach the gums. From that point on, it will be easier to keep the teeth and gums clean.
- Tissue grafts: Soft tissue grafts are used to fill in places where gums have receded. Tissue is removed from the roof of your mouth or it may come from a donor. The graft is then attached to exposed tooth roots to cover them.
- Bone grafts: Bone grafting implants pieces of bone or artificial material where bone under the teeth has eroded. The grafted bone will give the teeth the necessary material to regrow and hold the teeth in place again.
- Tissue regeneration: Guided tissue regeneration (GTR) is often used along with grafting. Surgical-grade fabric is inserted between the gums and the graft to give the new bone enough space to grow.
- Protein gel: Protein gel is used on damaged tooth roots. The gel helps the growth of healthy bone and gum tissue.
- Platelet supplementation: Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) may be placed on the surgical site to speed healing and reduce pain after gum surgery.
Gum disease causes tooth loss in adults more than any other factor. And it is totally preventable. Let’s look at the steps you can take to avoid this disease.
How To Prevent Gum Disease
The formula to prevent gum disease is simple: Brush and floss your teeth regularly and have regular dental exams and cleanings. You can even reverse gum disease if treatment is started before serious damage to the bone around your teeth. If the bone is compromised, you can still slow and stop the disease. Here is exactly how to do that:
- Schedule dental cleanings at least twice a year.
- Let your dentist know if you have a family history of gingivitis or periodontal disease.
- Use a soft-bristled brush and fluoride toothpaste and brush twice a day.
- Replace your toothbrush every three months (sooner if the bristles become frayed).
- Floss at least once a day to clean out food particles and plaque hiding between the teeth and under the gumline. If floss is difficult for you, try interdental cleaners, picks, or small brushes.
- Rinse your mouth with an antibacterial mouthwash. This prevents gingivitis, fights bad breath, and works to prevent plaque.
- Stop smoking. Smokers suffer from gum disease seven times more than nonsmokers. It can also interfere with some gum disease treatments.
- Reduce stress as much as possible. Stress makes it hard for your body’s immune system to fight off infection.
- Maintain a balanced diet. Eating a nutritionally sound diet helps your immune system fight infection.
- Try not to clench and grind your teeth. These actions place excess force on the teeth and they weaken the tissues around the teeth.
Gum Disease is a Preventable (and Treatable!) Disease
Gum disease affects up to half of the American population to some degree. The tragedy of this statistic is that gum disease is preventable, even if you are genetically predisposed to it. Vigilance with your daily oral hygiene regimen is the key, with a focus on regular brushing, flossing, dental exams, and dental cleanings. Are you worried about gum disease? Our team here at All Smiles Dentistry can help! We’ll create a personalized prevention plan to keep your gums and teeth as healthy as possible and your smile confident. Contact us to schedule an appointment today!