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Have you noticed any bleeding when brushing your teeth recently? This could be an early sign of gum disease. It starts as gingivitis, which initially affects your gums with inflammation and bleeding. If left untreated, the infection can progress deeper, damaging the tissues and bone supporting your teeth, and potentially leading to tooth loss.
Maintaining good oral hygiene is crucial in preventing periodontal disease, a common condition that can lead to significant oral health issues. Brushing your teeth regularly helps combat plaque and tartar buildup, which are primary contributors to bad breath and gum disease. Symptoms of gum disease include red and swollen gums, receding gums and teeth in more advanced stages, tooth loss.
In this article, we explore effective treatments, ranging from essential oral hygiene practices to advanced therapies. These options aim to not only manage but also prevent the progression of gum disease, ensuring your gums remain healthy and your smile stays bright.
Is gum disease curable?
Gum disease covers a range of conditions that affect the tissues around your teeth. It advances through four distinct stages, each with unique characteristics and implications for oral health.
The stages of gum disease are-
1. Gingivitis
This is the mildest form of gum disease, characterised by inflamed gums due to plaque buildup from poor oral hygiene.
2. Early periodontitis
As gingivitis progresses, infection affects tooth-supporting structures like bone, leading to receding gums and gum pockets.
3. Moderate periodontitis
Untreated early periodontitis can progress, causing damage to bone and tissues, resulting in loose teeth.
4. Advanced periodontitis
This indicates the most severe stage, with significant damage to bone and tissues supporting teeth, often causing teeth to loosen or fall out.
Managing gum disease is possible, but complete cure is challenging, especially once it progresses to periodontitis. Gingivitis can often be reversed with good oral hygiene practices, professional cleanings, and addressing factors like smoking or poor nutrition. To address these issues, scaling and root planing might be necessary.
However, curing gum disease completely becomes more difficult once it advances to periodontitis, where irreversible damage to the bone and tissues supporting the teeth occurs.
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How is gum disease treatment done?
Early detection through regular dental check-ups and prompt treatment are crucial for effectively managing gum disease. Treatment methods vary based on the stage and severity of the condition.
a) Non-surgical treatments
This therapy is applied during the early stages of gum disease to manage plaque formation.
- Professional dental cleaning - Scaling and polishing is done to remove tartar and bacteria from tooth surfaces and just below the gumline.
- Root planing - To address deeper issues, root planing might be necessary. This professional cleaning procedure helps remove plaque and tartar from beneath the gum line, promoting healthier gums.
- Antibiotics - Topical antibiotics like mouth rinses or oral antibiotics may be used to manage bacterial infection and promote gum health.
Click here to read about how to cure gum disease without a dentist.
b) Surgical treatments
When conventional treatments are insufficient, periodontal surgery may be recommended. This surgical intervention is aimed at thoroughly removing plaque bacteria that have accumulated deep within pockets around the roots of teeth. Beyond simply cleaning, periodontal surgery often includes regenerative procedures designed to restore and rebuild lost gum tissue and bone structure.
In cases where gum tissues are severely affected, treatments like guided tissue regeneration and tissue grafts can be considered. These procedures aim to restore the gums and underlying bone to their optimal state. Common surgical options include flap surgery, gingivectomy, soft tissue grafting and bone grafting.
c) Supportive therapy
This therapy focuses on ensuring that gum disease doesn't return after treatment. It's not just about fixing the issue once—it's about keeping your gums healthy over time.
- Regular Check-ups and Monitoring: Dentists evaluate gum and tooth health during check-ups, identifying changes requiring attention or further treatment.
- Re-education on Plaque Control Measures: Education on effective plaque control measures is also a key component. This includes personalised guidance on proper brushing and flossing techniques, as well as the use of interdental cleaners or mouth rinses.
- Oral Hygiene Maintenance: This includes instructions on effective home care to prevent plaque buildup and reduce the risk of gum disease recurrence, tailored to individual needs and oral health goals.
d) Lifestyle changes
If you want to maintain healthy gums, making some lifestyle adjustments is necessary. This includes-
Smoking Cessation: Quitting smoking can improve the success of gum disease treatment.
Healthy Diet: Eating a balanced diet low in sugars and rich in nutrients can support gum health.
e) Advanced Therapy (LANAP)
Laser treatments like LANAP are increasingly popular for treating gum disease. LANAP, which stands for Laser-Assisted New Attachment Procedure, utilises laser technology to address conditions like gingivitis and periodontitis. This treatment is effective because it targets infected gum tissue and bacteria around the teeth while preserving healthy gum tissue. LANAP also promotes the growth of healthy bone around the teeth.
Using lasers ensures reduced discomfort and faster recovery times. Importantly, LANAP is safe for patients with health concerns such as diabetes, hemophilia, those taking blood thinners, and even those with dental implants.
Interested to know more about LANAP? Click here to find out more.
Conclusion
The primary objective of treatment is to manage the infection effectively. The type of treatments recommended will depend on the severity of the gum disease. Successful treatment also hinges on maintaining excellent daily oral care at home. Additionally, the dentist or dental hygienist may advise making lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking, to enhance the outcomes of your treatment.
Ready for a gum check up? Reach out to us and we will assist in booking an appointment for you!
References
- Dubey, Pragati & Mittal, Neelam. (2020). Periodontal diseases- A brief review. International Journal of Oral Health Dentistry. 6. 177-187. 10.18231/j.ijohd.2020.038.
- Tariq M, Iqbal Z, Ali J, Baboota S, Talegaonkar S, Ahmad Z, Sahni JK. Treatment modalities and evaluation models for periodontitis. Int J Pharm Investig. 2012 Jul;2(3):106-22. doi: 10.4103/2230-973X.104394. PMID: 23373002; PMCID: PMC3555006.