Gum Disease in Shenandoah Valley, VA

What Exactly Does Periodontal Disease Involve?

Periodontal disease, which people often refer to as gum disease, is essentially a bacterial infection of the tissue in your mouth that you can see surrounding your teeth and holding them securely in their spaces. The earliest stage of periodontal disease is gingivitis, and reversing gum disease is simplest at this point.

At Dental Health Associates, our dentists take a serious approach to gingivitis treatment to help each patient maintain their dental health.

What Are the Main Causes of Gingivitis?

The most noticeable gingivitis symptoms are usually caused by poor oral hygiene. If you skip brushing your teeth and flossing between them regularly, then a sticky, bacteria-filled substance called plaque builds up on the surface of your teeth.

Gum disease begins when the plaque hardens and irritates your gum tissues. The resulting inflammation in your gums is what causes the signs of gingivitis to develop, such as swelling. The best gingivitis cure we have available today is prevention. But, it’s also good to know that dental clinics offer many effective treatments for gum disease. If you are experiencing any signs of gingivitis, contact our office today.

If you don’t seek a gingivitis cure in the early stages, the infected gums can develop pockets that pull them away from your teeth. This weakens the support structures and teeth can become loose and fall out. Sadly, extensive gum disease is the most common cause of lost teeth in Americans who are over the age of 35.

What Are Common Gum Disease Symptoms?

You could potentially have a case of gum disease for a long time without having signs of gingivitis. But, you will eventually begin to notice some of these gingivitis symptoms. Noticing any of these gum disease symptoms is a sure sign that you need to contact a dental professional for help with gingivitis treatment.

• Red, inflamed, puffy, or sensitive gums
• Unusual taste in your mouth or bad breath
• Gums bleeding during brushing and flossing

What Typical Signs of Gum Disease Will Professional Dentists Check For?

A dentist can also notice that you are being negatively impacted by the serious effects of gum disease when they notice these signs of periodontitis during your exam.

• Swelling gums
• Gums that develop pockets of inflammation
• Edges of the gums pulling back from the teeth's surfaces
• Loose teeth or gaps developing between them
• Visible pus between your teeth and gums

What Stages of Gum Disease Do People Experience?

Before a dentist can recommend a gum disease cure, they’ll check to see which stage your gum disease has progressed to and the condition of your general health to ensure you do not need other interventions.

First Stage: Gingivitis

The initial stage of a person's gum disease involves minor bleeding during an oral hygiene routine. Usually, you won’t have any pain. At this point, you can hope to achieve a fairly rapid cure for gingivitis. Reversing gingivitis is also easier at this stage.

Second Stage: Periodontitis

If you don’t treat gingivitis, then you’ll eventually develop periodontitis. In this stage, the soft tissues and jawbone structure that hold your teeth in their places become permanently damaged. Your dentist can also identify periodontal pockets around your gum line that trap food and plaque. The bacteria that multiply in these spaces can cause the condition to progress faster.

Advanced Periodontitis

When you reach the final stage of periodontitis, you may notice your teeth shifting and getting looser. In severe cases, teeth can even fall out. Addressing this oral health condition early on helps avoid reaching this point.

Is There a True Gingivitis Cure?

Receiving early and effective dental treatment is the best way to find a cure for gingivitis. On top of getting professional teeth cleanings, the road to a gingivitis cure involves following a strict oral hygiene regimen at home.

To get started, you can simply schedule a dental evaluation with our dentist today.

What Is Involved With Advance Periodontitis and Gingivitis Treatment?

With more advanced stages of the disease, we’ll recommend treatments that may include professional scaling and root planing that reach below your gum line. We can also use antibiotic treatments and antibacterial mouth rinses to get the condition under control.

In some cases, our dentist may give you a referral to a special type of gum specialist called a periodontist. People with serious cases of this progressive disease may also need surgery to help secure their teeth and replace lost tissue.

How Do You Get Started With Reversing Gum Disease?

Going for regular checkups and teeth cleanings at your dental clinic gives you the best chance of identifying early gingivitis and finding a prompt cure. But, we can also help you get started on treating your gum condition at any stage. Don’t ignore those gingivitis signs. Instead, call us today to request a dental appointment to help you start treating gum disease in Shenandoah Valley, VA for the best possible outcome.