What Is It?

Gingivitis, also commonly called as periodontal disease or gum disease occurs due to excessive bacterial growth in your mouth. If not treated r adequately taken care of, periodontal disease may lead to tooth decay, tooth loss and gum decay around the teeth.

What Are The Symptoms Of Gum Disease?

The worst thing about periodontal disease is that it develops and progresses silently, painlessly and it is hard to notice until it gets severe. Some symptoms of periodontal disease include:

• Changes in the bite and how teeth fit together upon biting
• Shifting or loose teeth
• Formation of gaps and pockets between teeth and gums
• Consistent bad breath
• Consistent bad taste in mouth
• Swollen gums
• Weak gums which bleed during and after brushing teeth
• Receding gums (Teeth might start to appear longer)

What Are The Causes Of Periodontal Disease?

Large amounts of plaque deposits which stay in the mouth for enough time for rapid bacterial growth is the leading cause of gum disease. There are a number of other causes as well like:

• Genetically Inherited– If you have a family history of gum disease then you are more prone to periodontal disease as well
• Lack Of Oral Hygiene– Poor oral hygiene habits like not brushing or flossing daily promotes the development of periodontal disease
• Addictions– Addictions and habits like smoking and drinking are a leading cause of gum disease as they lower the chances of the gum tissue to repair itself
• Illnesses– Diseases  such as diabetes, HIV and cancer stunt the development of the body’s natural immune system which leaves the gums more prone to attacked by bacteria
• Hormones– Drastic hormonal changes during puberty,  pregnancy and menstruation may lead to periodontal disease if proper oral hygiene is not practiced

How Can Periodontal Disease Be Treated?

Fortunately, dentists have a number of procedures to treat periodontal disease depending upon the severity of the infection.

Treatments For Normal Cases

If your gums are still in shape but they are red or swollen and you feel slight pain while biting or chewing, our dentist might advise you to go for:

• Professional Cleaning -Removal of plaque and tartar from above and below the gum line of all teeth
• Scaling– Tartar and plaque deposits are scraped away and rough spots on the roots are smoothened out to make it difficult for bacteria to stick on

Treatments For Severe Cases

If your periodontal disease is severe and your gum line is highly receded, this might require you to go for surgical treatments like:

• Bone Grafting -Using your own or synthetic bone to replace lost bone in the gum
• Gap Reduction– Reduction of spaces between gum and tooth
• Soft Tissue Grafting -Using tissue from the roof of your mouth to stitch to gums in areas where tissue is lost

There are a number of other procedures which the dentist might use to treat your periodontal disease; the nature of treatment solely depends upon the severity of your gum problems. Come and visit our practice for a consultation to find out the best way to take to care of your smile!