Comprehensive Gum Disease Treatment & Prevention

Gum disease is one of the most common dental problems, causing swollen, bleeding gums, bad breath, and even tooth loss. The great news is gum disease can be prevented and treated with proper care and attention from both you and your dentist.

Along with a thorough cleaning, scaling, polishing, flossing, and fluoride treatment, we provide all our patients with bacteria testing at every cleaning appointment. This extra step allows us to create a more effective gum disease treatment plan, promoting healthy gums and better overall health.

What Is Gum Disease?

Gum disease is an inflammation of the gums at the place where your teeth and gums meet. It can develop when plaque, which contains bacteria, isn’t brushed and flossed away daily and hardens into tartar.

This tartar can lead to an infection below the gum line, resulting in gingivitis, a mild form of gum disease. Untreated, gingivitis can eventually lead to more severe gum disease, called periodontitis.

Preventing & Treating Gum Disease

One of the most effective things you can do to prevent gum disease is to maintain good oral hygiene habits, including brushing twice a day, flossing nightly, and quitting smoking.

Regular dental exams and cleanings every 6 months allow us to assess your gum health and do a thorough cleaning to help you with prevention. We can also advise you on any additional treatments that might be necessary.

Signs of Gum Disease

You should never see blood when brushing or flossing your teeth. Bleeding gums are a common sign of gum disease—may be a sign you’ve ignored in the past. But leaving your gum disease untreated can lead to sore gums, bad breath, and tooth loss.

Other signs of gum disease include:

Swollen, shiny, or red gums around your teeth
Bad breath that doesn’t go away
Sensitive teeth
A metallic taste in your mouth

Scaling & Root Planing

Plaque needs to be removed from your teeth to prevent tooth decay or gum disease from setting in. You may feel or hear some scraping during scaling, but our team is always as gentle as possible.

Also referred to as “deep cleaning,” root planing is a common periodontal therapy that removes built-up plaque below your gum tissue. This is one of the best ways to fight gum disease, but you may feel some discomfort and sensitivity for up to several days after the procedure.

Antimicrobial rinses and traditional scaling has been shown to be effective in treating periodontal disease. With bacteria testing and the appropriate antibacterial therapy, we can remove significantly more of the bacteria, fungus, and biofilm associated with gum disease.

Bacteria Testing & Treatment

Bacteria testing allows us to select the most appropriate antibiotic rinse, oral antibiotic cream, and/or antibacterial mouthwash to fight a patient’s gum disease. This treatment can provide excellent results to fight the signs and symptoms of periodontal disease, including: