Are your gums sensitive? Do your gums bleed when you brush your teeth? You may have gum inflammation. Also known as gingivitis, gum inflammation is an early sign of gum disease. At 615 Smile Design Studio, we help patients with periodontal disease treatment in Nashville, TN.
When they build up between teeth, bacteria cause gum inflammation and disease. Harmful bacteria irritate and inflame the gums, gradually breaking them down. Over time, patients with gum disease can experience gum recession and tooth loss.
Periodontal disease treatment is a restorative dentistry treatment we provide in Nashville. This treatment restores the teeth and gums and prevents symptoms that patients can experience in the later stages of gum disease.
What Are The Common Signs of Gum Disease?
The most common symptoms of gum disease include:
- Bleeding gums
- Gum inflammation and irritation
- Sensitive teeth and gums
- Gum recession
- Bad breath
- Loose teeth
Please call our office if you notice changes in your gum health or any of these symptoms. We will thoroughly examine your smile to determine your stage of gum disease.
Before periodontal gum disease treatment in our Nashville, TN office, we will:
- Check Your Gums: Our dentist will look at your gums to see if they are red, swollen, or bleeding, which are early signs of gum disease. They may also check if your gums are pulling away from your teeth. Our dentist checks for plaque and tartar buildup on your teeth. Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria, and tartar is hardened plaque that can lead to gum disease if not removed.
- Measure Gum Pockets: Our dentist measures the space between your gums and teeth using a small, thin tool. Healthy gums fit snugly around your teeth, but gum disease creates deep gum pockets, which is a sign of damage.
- X-rays: In some cases, our dentist may take X-rays to check for bone loss around your teeth, which happens in more severe stages of gum disease. 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 happens in stages, getting worse if it’s not treated. Here are the stages:
- Gingivitis: This is the earliest stage of gum disease. When you brush or floss, your gums may look red and swollen and bleed. Gingivitis is caused by plaque buildup on your teeth, but it can be reversed with good brushing, flossing, and regular dental cleanings.
- Mild Periodontitis: If gingivitis isn’t treated, it can turn into mild periodontitis. The gums start to pull away from the teeth, forming small pockets where bacteria can get trapped. You might notice more bleeding and bad breath. At this stage, damage to the bone supporting your teeth begins.
- Moderate Periodontitis: As gum disease progresses, these pockets deepen, and more bacteria build up. The gums continue to recede, and more bone is lost. You might feel discomfort and see your teeth starting to loosen. Professional treatments, like scaling and root planing, are needed to stop the disease.
- Advanced Periodontitis: This is the most severe stage. The bone and tissue that support your teeth are seriously damaged. Your teeth may become loose or fall out, and you may experience pain and swollen gums. Deep cleanings and possibly surgery are required 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 the teeth, gums, and tooth roots. 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 use dental tools can effectively remove bacterial buildup that is 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 on a regular basis if patients have chronic gum problems. We will 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 cause gum disease. Drinking water and eating crunchy vegetables can also help wash 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 takes longer for your mouth to recover from infections or injuries.
Reverse Gum Disease Symptoms
Do you need to treat irritated, red, and inflamed gum tissue? Get periodontal disease treatment in Nashville, TN, today. Call 615 Smile Design at (615) 637-2878 or request a dental appointment with our dentists online. We look forward to seeing you on your next visit.