Do your gums feel sore or bleed when you brush your teeth? If so, you might be dealing with gum inflammation, also called gingivitis. It’s an early warning sign of gum disease. At 615 Smile Design Studio, we help patients in Nashville protect their smiles with effective gum disease treatments.
Gum disease starts when bacteria builds up between your teeth and gums. This bacteria will irritate the gum tissue, causing redness, swelling, and bleeding. Without treatment, the problem can get worse and lead to gum recession, loose teeth, or even tooth loss.
Our gum disease treatments will restore the health of your gums and teeth. We will stop the damage before it becomes more serious, and use restorative dentistry treatments to fix existing damage.
What Are The Common Signs of Gum Disease?
Here are some common symptoms to watch for:
- Bleeding when you brush or floss
- Red, swollen, or tender gums
- Receding gums
- Sensitive teeth or gums
- Persistent bad breath
- Loose teeth
If you notice any of these signs, don’t wait to give our office a call. We’ll take a close look at your gums and figure out the best treatment for your needs. Before periodontal gum disease treatment in our Nashville, TN office, we will:
- Check Your Gums: Our dentist will look at your gums to check for early signs of gum disease, including red, swollen, or bleeding gums. We’ll also look for signs of gum recession and check for plaque and tartar buildup. Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria, and tartar is hardened plaque that can lead to gum disease if not removed.
- Measure Gum Pockets: Using a small tool, we’ll measure the space between your gums and teeth. Healthy gums fit snugly, but gum disease creates deeper pockets that signal damage.
- Take X-rays: In some cases, we’ll take X-rays to check for bone loss around your teeth. This helps us see how far the disease has progressed. We usually take X-rays at routine visits, but will also take X-rays if you have signs of gum disease. Digital images help us get a closer look at your gums.
Stages of Gum Disease
Gum disease doesn’t happen overnight. It progresses in stages if ignored. Here’s what you should know for each stage:
- Gingivitis: This is the earliest stage of gum disease. When you brush or floss, your gums may feel tender, look red, and bleed easily. Gingivitis is caused by plaque buildup. But the good news is that it’s reversible with good brushing, flossing, and regular cleanings.
- Mild Periodontitis: If gingivitis isn’t treated, it can lead to mild periodontitis. At this stage, your gums begin to pull away from your teeth and form small pockets where bacteria hides. You might notice bad breath and more bleeding. At this stage, damage to the bone supporting your teeth begins.
- Moderate Periodontitis: As the disease progresses, these pockets deepen, and bacteria causes more damage. You may experience gum recession, bone loss, and loose teeth. You will need professional care, like scaling and root planing, to stop the damage.
- Advanced Periodontitis: This is the most severe stage. The bone and tissue that support your teeth are badly damaged. Teeth become loose or even fall out, and you may experience pain and swollen gums. Deep cleanings or surgery might be necessary to try and save your teeth.
Treating Gum Disease in Nashville, TN
Depending on the extent of your gum disease symptoms, we will recommend one or more of these treatments:
Scaling and Root Planing
Scaling and root planing are treatments that our hygienists use in tandem to treat patients who already have signs of gum disease. Our dental hygienists use stainless steel dental tools to remove disease-causing bacteria from your mouth. During scaling treatment, they gently remove plaque and tartar from beneath the gum tissue.
Plaque is a bacterial film that becomes tartar once it hardens. We can effectively remove bacterial buildup that’s difficult to remove with a toothbrush. During root planing treatment, our hygienists remove bacteria from the tooth roots. Root planing keeps the roots healthy and can prevent tooth loss.
Dental Cleanings
Our hygienists can provide these cleanings regularly if patients have chronic gum problems. We’ll help patients schedule regular appointments so they can keep their gum health in check. Cleanings remove harmful bacteria from the teeth and gums.
Surgery
If patients have more severe symptoms of gum disease, we will refer them to an oral surgeon. Gum surgeries can combat gum recession and prevent permanent tooth loss. If you have gum recession, surgery can help rebuild healthy gum tissue with new donor tissue.
How to Prevent Gum Disease At Home
You can keep your teeth and gums healthy and reduce your risk of gum disease at home if you:
Brush and Floss
Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste to brush your teeth for two minutes, morning and night. Make sure to brush along the gum line to remove plaque and prevent it from hardening into tartar.
Flossing helps remove food particles and plaque between your teeth and under the gum line, where your toothbrush can’t reach. If you do not floss enough, you can experience bleeding gums, which is the first sign of gum disease. Floss at least once a day before you brush to keep your gums healthy.
Eat Healthy Foods
A balanced diet low in sugar helps reduce plaque buildup on your teeth. Eating various healthy foods, including proteins, helps your immune system work better. A strong immune system can fight off the bacteria that causes gum disease. Drinking water often and eating crunchy vegetables washes away food particles and bacteria from your teeth and gums.
Avoid Tobacco Products
Smoking increases the amount of plaque and tartar on your teeth. Plaque buildup leads to gum disease, and if not cleaned away, it can cause your gums to become infected and inflamed.
Tobacco weakens your immune system, making it harder for your body to fight off bacteria that cause gum disease. If you get a gum disease, tobacco use slows down the healing process. It will take longer for your mouth to recover from infections or injuries.
Let’s Get Your Gums Back to Good Health
Do you need to treat irritated, red, and inflamed gum tissue? Healthy gums are the foundation of a healthy smile. If you’re dealing with gum disease or have noticed changes in your gum health, don’t wait to get help.
Get periodontal disease treatment in Nashville, TN, today. Call 615 Smile Design at (615) 637-2878 or request an appointment online. We’re here to help you smile with confidence again! Our Nashville office proudly serves Walnut Hill, Summit Oaks, Windsor Terrace, and nearby neighborhoods.