About Gum Disease Treatment Options in Odessa, Florida

Why Gum Disease Treatment Is Essential To Oral Health

If you’re thinking about skipping a nightly brush here and there, think again. Dental neglect and gum disease go hand-in-hand, and if left untreated, may lead to serious health complications like heart disease, heart attacks, and strokes. In fact, every 2 out of 5 adults over the age of 30 in the United States, are impacted by a mild, moderate, or severe form of gum disease¹. Get to know the warning signs and seek professional gum disease treatment in Odessa, Fl as soon as possible.

What Is Gum Disease?

When you have an infection in the gums and bones that support your teeth, this is known as gum disease. It’s caused by a build-up of plaque and tartar on the teeth, which forms when not removed from daily brushing and flossing. When tartar forms (hardened plaque), it can cause your gums to become inflamed, which leads to gum disease. Unfortunately, tartar can only be removed by a professional dentist, which is why it’s important to stick to routine dental cleanings.

What Are The Classifications of Gum Disease?

Gum disease is classified as mild, moderate, or severe depending on the depth of infection in your gums, and is labeled either as gingivitis or periodontitis.

Gingivitis: Gum disease in its earliest stage. The gums are slightly inflamed (red and swollen) and may bleed when you brush your teeth.
Periodontitis: Gum disease that has progressed to the point where the gums are significantly inflamed, and may pull away from your teeth. If they pull away from your teeth, this can cause your teeth to become loose, fall out, or cause bone loss.

Gum Disease Symptoms

Since gum disease is often painless, it can go unnoticed for long periods. This is why it’s critical to inspect your mouth every time you brush and floss for symptoms of it.

Bleeding gums when brushing your teeth (especially if gentle).
Swollen or red gums that are tender to the tough.
Gums that have receded (pulled away).
Pus-like substances that appear between your teeth.
Teeth that seem loose when touched.
A change in how you bite down or chew your food.
A change in how your partial dentures fit in your mouth.
Bad breath that cannot be tackled with mouthwash and doesn’t go away.

If you notice any of the symptoms above, then it’s imperative that you book yourself in for a gum disease treatment consultation in Odessa, Fl. Gum Disease Treatment Options for Mild & Moderate Cases

Gum Disease Treatment Options for Mild & Moderate Cases

If your gum disease is caught early enough, then it can be treated with a professional deep cleaning and scaling. This will help prevent the bacteria from spreading to other areas of the mouth, by removing it and the tartar present. In completing a cleaning and scaling gum disease treatment, inflammation is reduced, and your mouth can begin healing.

How Does Deep Cleaning & Root Planing Work?

One of our dentists here at Spring Haven Dental will scale your teeth with specialized instruments and remove all the plaque and tartar present. Then, the roots of your teeth are reshaped (called planing) to eliminate areas where bacteria have caused significant damage. In reshaping the root, this smooths it out and helps prevent bacteria from accumulating on the root again. Root planing is an important step in the deep cleaning process as it helps mitigate tooth loss, and prevents bacteria from entering your bloodstream.

What Is Pocket Reading & How Does It Work?

If you have mild to moderate gum disease, another recommended treatment is to have pocket readings taken. This is a painless procedure that measures the depth of the pockets around your teeth. If your gums fit snugly around your teeth, there will be minimal to no pockets present, but if you have a more severe version of gum disease, then the inflammation is going to cause deep periodontal pockets to form. Pocket readings are taken with a thin measuring stick, which is placed between your teeth and gums to measure the pocket depth.

Gum Disease Treatment Options for Periodontitis

For moderate to severe cases of gum disease, known as periodontitis, surgery options are recommended paths to help replace lost or damaged tissue and bone.

Pocket Reduction Surgery: This involves making small incisions in your gums to remove the tartar and bacteria that is causing the infection. Then the roots of your teeth will be smoothed out to help reduce future risk of infection.
Crown Lengthening: This procedure is often combined with pocket reduction surgery. It involves pulling the gum tissue down and away from the tooth to help reveal more of the tooth itself. This is done to help improve the appearance of your smile, as well as, reduce the risk of infection.
Gum Grafting: This is a procedure that is done to help replace lost or damaged gum tissue. Gum grafting involves taking gum tissue from another part of your mouth and attaching it to the affected area. This will help to reduce the risk of infection and improve the appearance of your smile.

If you think you have gum disease, it’s important to seek treatment as soon as possible to help reduce the risk of serious health complications. Schedule a consultation with Spring Haven Dental in Odessa, FL today, and let us help you tackle gum disease for a healthier smile.