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Gum Conditions And Their Treatment

29 October 2019

Oscar Allen

Your periodontal health plays an important role in your overall oral health. As problems arise with the health of your gums, the issues can affect the teeth and even the bone of the jaw. 

Many gingival issues begin as inflammation as the gums are exposed to bacterial acids. However, the inflammation can progress to an infection. Additionally, if an infection does develop, the infecting bacteria may migrate to the bone of the jaw, resulting in jawbone atrophy and possible tooth loss.

Here is a bit of information about gum conditions and how they can be treated.

Common Gum Conditions

Gum disease has different names, depending on the severity of the condition. The earliest stage of gum disease is called gingivitis. It begins as the gum tissue becomes inflamed and can cause a number of symptoms, such as gingival bleeding, swelling, reddening, and tenderness. 

A severe form of gum disease, which is called periodontitis, may develop if gingivitis is permitted to progress. In addition to the symptoms of gingivitis, the symptoms of periodontitis include gum recession, loose teeth, bad breath, migrating teeth, and dental pain. There are also spaces or pockets that form between the teeth and the gums. Bacteria may accumulate in the pockets to cause infections. The deeper the pockets, the greater the severity of the periodontitis.

How Is Gum Disease Treated?

To treat gum disease, professional and at-home measures may be needed. For gingivitis, professional measures may include a thorough dental cleaning. Additionally, the dentist may recommend an antimicrobial mouth rinse for use at home. Regular flossing and brushing are also essential. By keeping the mouth clean, a patient can reverse gingivitis relatively quickly. 

For periodontitis, the professional treatments are more extensive. The dentist scrapes away tartar and plaque from above and below the gum line. The roots of the teeth are even scaled and smoothed during root scaling and planing treatments. Nevertheless, although this deep-cleaning treatment is more invasive than a regular dental cleaning, it is not painful. The gums are numbed before the roots are scaled and planed.

Following the treatment, after the anesthesia wears off, the gums may feel a bit tender. However, the tenderness often dissipates within a few days. The pockets and other periodontal symptoms should also subside after the treatment.

If you are experiencing problems with your gums, schedule a consultation with a provider of periodontist services in your local area. They can assess your gingival health and recommend an appropriate treatment.

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