What is Gum Disease?
Gum (periodontal) disease is caused by plaque – bacteria that builds up on your teeth and creates toxins. These toxins affect the gum tissue and bones surrounding the teeth.
Gum disease can have serious repercussions even though it may start out painless and progress gradually. Due to the interconnections between gum health and many other aspects of oral and physical health, losing your teeth is not the only possibility; this infection also increases your risk of developing heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. Because of this, we must stop it before it reaches the more serious stages.
Types of Gum Disease
The two types of gum disease include:
Gingivitis
Gingivitis is an early-stage gum disease. At this point, gums may become sensitive, red, and swollen, and you may spot blood in your toothbrush or when you floss.
Periodontitis
The more serious type of gum disease is periodontitis. Your gums are currently receding, and bacteria will eventually fill the spaces between your gums and teeth. Jaw bone loss that is mild to moderate can also occur.
Advanced periodontitis
Teeth lose support as your gums, bone, and periodontal ligament break down. Moderate to severe bone loss in your jaw may occur, and your teeth can become loose or fall out.
How to Maintain & Improve Gum Health
Though gum disease has scary outcomes, most cases are preventable with good oral hygiene and regular checkups. Here’s what you can do at home and how your dentist can help:
At Home
- Brush at least twice daily
- Floss once per day
- Rinse thoroughly with an alcohol-free anti-gingivitis mouthwash
- See your dentist regularly and let them know about any changes, gum sensitivity or soreness
What Your Dentist Can Do for Your Gums
Your dentist provides professional cleanings and tracks your oral health so any problems can be spotted early.
They'll enquire about your regular oral care routine, whether you've noticed any changes or sensitivity in your gums, and whether you have any questions about oral hygiene and care.
Treatments for Gum Disease
At Eckhardt Dental Centre, we offer a variety of options to help you maintain healthy gums, and prevent and treat gum disease:
Preventive Hygiene
To treat early-stage gum disease, we recommend frequent hygiene appointments, deep cleanings and specialized home care routines.
Gum Grafts
This surgical procedure thickens gums, protects against the damaging effects of gum recession and can help improve the appearance of your smile.
Pinhole Gum Rejuvenation Surgery
Gum recession can be treated without the use of a scalpel or sutures using the Chao Pinhole® Surgical Technique. The patient's existing gum tissue is punctured with a needle by the dentist, who then uses specialized tools to gently loosen the gum tissue. To hide the exposed root structure, the gumline is gently moved.
Teeth & Gum Contouring
The overall aesthetics of your smile can be enhanced with these cosmetic dental procedures. While excess gum tissue is removed to contour or lift gums, teeth contouring involves using a dental drill to shave away extra tooth material and reshape chipped, uneven, or poorly aligned teeth.