Most adults in the United States may have some type of dental disease. Gum inflammation is one of the most common dental diseases. Some other gum diseases are more serious because they damage the bone and soft tissues that support the teeth. Without having dental treatment, there will be a possibility that you could lose some of your teeth. Treatment options depend on how well you take care of your gums and teeth each day.
What Causes Gum Problems
Your mouth has a lot of bacteria and mucus that might form plaque on your teeth. Plaque is a substance which is colorless and sticky. To remove the plaque, you must brush teeth and floss regularly. If you do not remove the plaque, it will harden and tartar will then form. Tartar should be avoided because it is a substance in the mouth that can’t be cleaned with a toothbrush. Use of advanced cleaning tools in the dentist’s office is the only way to remove the tartar in the teeth.
Tartar and plaque should be cleaned immediately because they will become more harmful. Over time, bacteria will cause gum inflammation, which is called gingivitis. Gingivitis makes the gums red and swollen, and they will bleed quite easily. Gingivitis is not considered a serious form of gum disease, and can still be reversed by flossing and brushing properly. In addition, regular cleaning by a dental professional will be required. Gingivitis does not cause tissue or bone loss as well.
Without treatment, gingivitis will advance to periodontitis, which causes inflammation around your tooth. When this happens, your gums will pull away from your teeth and a pocket will form, which can become infected. Your immune system will fight the bacteria if the plaque travels under your gum line. This condition must be treated because the bacteria will destroy your gums and the surrounding tissue.
Common Gum Disease Cases
Most people do not notice any signs of gum disease until they are in their 30s or 40s. Teenagers can develop gingivitis, but they rarely develop to periodontitis.
Symptoms of Gum Problems
- Bad breath that is tough to eliminate.
- Swollen and sore gums.
- Bleeding gums.
- Severe pain while chewing.
- Teeth become loose.
- Teeth are too sensitive.
- A receding gum line.
If you have any of these symptoms, visit a dentist for a checkup. The dentist will need information about your medical history to pinpoint underlying risk factors and health conditions. Then, the dentist will inspect your gum for signs of inflammation. Finally, a tiny ruler will be used to measure any pockets you may have. If your mouth is healthy, the depth of the pockets will be between one and three millimeters. The pocket depth measurement procedure is usually painless and fast.
Treatment Options
The main purpose of treatment is to manage the infection. There are numerous treatment options for different kinds of gum disease. However, all treatments require that patients implement good dental care procedures at home.
Most dentists usually remove plaque by using a scaling tool and a root planning tool. Scaling involves scraping tarter from the top and bottom on the gum line. Root planning eliminates rough spots on the root of a tooth, which is where germs gather. Depending on the dental situation, a laser may also be used to clean tartar and plaque. A laser cleaning procedure is better than traditional procedures because it causes less discomfort, bleeding, and swelling.
Gum Problems - Surgical Treatments
Surgery may also be required if inflammation problems do not go away after deep cleaning treatments and medications. Flap surgery may be performed by a dentist to remove deep pockets and tartar deposits. During the surgery, the dentist pulls the gums back and removes the tartar.
A dentist may also perform procedures to regenerate any gum tissue or bone that was lost to gum disease. Bone grafting involves placing natural or synthetic bone in the area where bone was lost to promote bone growth. Tissue regeneration methods are commonly used during bone grafting; when this technique is used, the dentist places a tiny, mesh material between the gum tissue and bone. This helps the gum tissue grow in the proper area near the bone.
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