Having zero cavities in your mouth doesn’t guarantee healthy gums. Gum diseases are usually painless and show up only when the problem is aggravated. If you have gum disease, you will notice early symptoms, including bleeding, soreness, or swelling in your gums. These symptoms are collectively known as gingivitis. If left untreated, it may lead to a serious gum infection.
However, if you maintain a healthy oral routine along with brushing, flossing, and using daily mouthwash, you can keep your oral health in check.
In the article, we discuss gum disease treatment and its various stages.
What is a Gum Disease?
A gum disease usually develops due to the buildup of plaque under and along the gum line. This leads to infection and affects the gum and the bone. The earliest form of gum disease is gingivitis, a type of infection that causes inflamed gums.
Some of the symptoms of gingivitis are:
1. Inflammation.
2. Tenderness.
3. Redness.
4. Swelling.
5. Bleeding.
Paying early attention to these signs and maintaining a healthy oral routine can prevent you from developing a more severe condition called periodontitis, a serious infection that damages the gums and can even destroy the jawbone.
You can say periodontitis is an advanced form of gingivitis. While gingivitis is limited only to the gums, periodontitis starts affecting your bones and can lead to a appointment with an Emergency Dentist In Osseo.
What are the Stages of Gum Disease Treatment?
If you have periodontitis, you should consider the following stages of gum disease treatment:
1. Proper Oral Hygiene
The first stage of any gum disease treatment is proper oral hygiene. Oral hygiene aims to reduce the number of bacteria in your mouth, which in turn reduces inflammation.
When you visit a dentist for periodontitis, he will first give you instructions on changing your oral routine. It may include certain antiseptic mouthwashes or floss to ensure a successful treatment.
2. Professional Dental Cleaning
In the next stage, the dentist will remove bacterial deposits, that is, plaque or tartar from your teeth. Once removed, your teeth will be polished with fluoride. If required, your dentist will also remove plaque or tartar from the root surfaces of gums.
In the early stages, you can get rid of plaque with only one dental cleaning session. Severe cases, however, call for more than one session of thorough cleaning.
3. Antibiotic Therapy
Antibiotics are not required for the early stages of periodontitis. However, if your gum infection is persistent or not responding to oral hygiene, you may receive antibiotic therapy.
4. Reassessment
Usually, periodontitis takes time to heal. After around 6-8 weeks, you can expect your initial therapy to show some progress. The dentist will first ask you to religiously practice an oral health routine and conduct a reassessment after eight weeks.
With the help of a periodontal probe, he will first record the depth of periodontal pockets and check for gum bleeding. If your periodontal pockets are greater than 3 mm, you may need corrective surgical therapy.
5. Corrective Surgical Therapy
In advanced periodontitis, when the infection has reached deeper gum pockets, corrective surgery may be needed.
Sometimes you may need a surgical procedure to remove plaque and bacteria from periodontal pockets. Since these areas are not accessible to brushes, the infection is difficult to be treated at home.
During surgery, the dentist will thoroughly clean the root surface by keeping you under local anesthesia. If the periodontitis is extremely severe and affects the bone, you may need a bone replacement graft or bone reconstruction for complete gum disease treatment.
6. Aftercare
The long-term success of your treatment will depend on two factors: Your oral hygiene and regular visits to the dentist. Even after the surgery, you will have to visit the dentist at regular intervals and avoid the disease from progressing. You can visit the dentist every 3-6 months for long-term relief from periodontitis.
To Sum It Up
Gum diseases are rare. They do not usually show symptoms in the early stages. Sudden pain and swelling in the gums are a telltale sign of gingivitis. If you notice such symptoms, get yourself checked at the earliest.
You can call us at +1 763-425-2626 or schedule an appointment here.
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