Gum disease is one of the most well-known oral health problems; from a young age, most people are taught that gingivitis is a problem, and that dental hygiene is necessary to avoid it.
Despite this fact, however, there’s a lot about gum disease that people don’t know. For example, while gingivitis is fairly common, people are often unaware how serious the advanced stages of the disease can be. In some circumstances, the issues with the gums can become difficult to even treat.
In the interest of helping people understand this condition, here’s what you should know about how gum disease progresses and how it’s treated.
The Stages of Gum Disease
Broadly speaking, gum disease progresses through two stages. The mildest is gingivitis. At this stage, you may notice some swelling of the gums, as well as occasional bleeding when you floss. If left untreated, however, this could progress to periodontitis.
Periodontitis begins when bacteria along the gumline becomes deeply entrenched. At this point the disease will begin to eat away at bone tissue, causing the gums to retract from the teeth. Periodontitis can be either mild, moderate, or severe; however, even at the earliest stages, the disease has already begun to damage bone tissue. In severe cases, the tooth may even come loose.
Treating Gingivitis and Periodontitis
How gum disease is handled has a lot to do with the stage that the condition is at. Gingivitis can often be handled easily, potentially without a dentist’s intervention, if the patient is diligent about daily hygiene.
Periodontitis, however, is another story. Even mild and moderate periodontitis requires the help of a dentist to treat it—at this stage, patients will usually need to undergo scaling or root planning to remove bacteria from deep under the gum line. In severe cases of periodontitis, surgery may be necessary in order to clean deep enough under the gum line to handle the issue.
Unfortunately, the erosion of the bone is irreversible. If periodontitis is allowed to progress, it will deal permanent damage to the teeth that could result in their eventual loss.
This can be a scary prospect, but don’t worry. You should be able to prevent gum disease well enough on your own if you’re thorough with dental hygiene. You can also see your dentist biannually for checkups and cleanings, allowing them to detect and treat the condition in its earliest stages.
About Our Practice
Have you ever felt like taking a trip to the dentist’s office was a chore? Like it’s something you just have to muddle through? At Meadowbrook Dentistry, we’re proud to say we’re different. From the moment you step into our office, you’ll find a dental team both deeply sensitive to your needs and dedicated to keeping you completely comfortable. When you visit us, we’ll show you that dentistry is something you can actually look forward to!
If you have any questions about cosmetic dentistry, we can be reached at our website or by phone at (516) 346-5655.