How to Treat Gingivitis and Periodontitis
All of us know brushing and flossing your teeth is essential to good oral care. When you do, have you ever noticed a few drops of blood in the sink? This can be alarming! What is your body trying to tell you?
WHY DOES MY GUM TISSUE BLEED?
Bleeding gums can mean you have gum inflammation. The professional dental term is gingivitis. It’s a mild form of gum disease. Other symptoms of gingivitis may include bad breath, receding gums, or sensitivity while eating. If left untreated these conditions can be the cause of tooth loss and other risk factors. It is not uncommon to have irritated or swollen gums. Gums that bleed may occur from brushing or flossing harshly. If you forget to brush, plaque can build up on your gum line. This plaque can turn into tartar which contains the bacteria that cause irritation. Family history, health problems, medications, and poor oral hygiene can contribute to it.
It is important to see your surgeon and discuss your health information to narrow it down. The good news is-sometimes it can be reversed. If gingivitis is mild, continued brushing and flossing twice a day with regular dental visits can reduce the irritation.
IS GUM DISEASE THE SAME AS PERIODONTAL DISEASE?
Our mouth has progressive stages of oral health. If gingivitis persists, you may have a more progressive gum disease. This is referred to as periodontitis.
The plaque and tartar bacteria around the tooth may have started to eat away at your gum line. As a result, gum and bone recede away from the teeth and the tissue forms small pockets. These pockets hold food and debris that can become infected and cause great pain.
Your teeth may change in the way they look, noticing more of the tooth surface and less of your gums. This is when you could experience loose wiggly teeth and eventually lose your teeth.
HOW CAN YOU TREAT GUM DISEASE?
The American Academy of Periodontology recommends ways to prevent gum disease by brushing teeth and gums, flossing, and using mouth wash. Smoking or chewing tobacco will increase the risk of gum disease. Visiting the surgeon twice a year will promote good oral hygiene. Here, a dental professional can properly diagnose and suggest the treatment of gum diseases. If you can’t get to a surgeon now, home remedies such as saltwater rinses may be effective in the mild stages of gingivitis. If you have periodontitis, your bone and connective tissue are no longer holding the tooth with stability. For science lovers, this is referred to as loss of alveolar bone and soft tissue.
For more severe cases of periodontal disease, maintenance treatment will be done with your surgeon or dental hygienist. The surgeon may measure your pocket depth and then perform a dental cleaning of the pockets and root surfaces.
WHAT IF YOU HAVE SEVERE BONE AND TISSUE LOSS
If you have severe bone and tissue loss, Bay Area OSM offers comfortable treatment for patients with periodontitis. We can take care of your extractions and ensure you have a stable implant.
We use bone grafting to support tissue regeneration. Call the office to set up a bone grafting consultation or book your appointment conveniently online today.
