Periodontal Disease (Gum Disease)
At Periodontal Health Center, we provide personalized periodontal care using state-of-the-art technologies for the most minimally-invasive approach.
Our goal is to treat gum disease, restore your smile, and help you maintain a healthy mouth and healthy body for life.
What is periodontal (gum) disease?
Periodontal disease, also called gum disease, is a bacterial infection of the gum tissues. Gum disease develops when bacteria, plaque and tartar build up in the gums, and over time, destroy healthy gum tissue and deteriorate the jaw bone.
Gum disease occurs in stages, beginning with gingivitis and progressing into periodontitis. Advanced periodontal disease is the most common cause of tooth loss in adults (NIH), so it’s essential that this disease is detected and treated before irreparable damage occurs.
What causes gum disease?
Gum disease is generally caused by an insufficient hygiene routine.
If teeth aren’t cleaned as frequently or thoroughly as necessary, bacteria will start to build up on the surface of the teeth, between the teeth, and around the gumline.
This bacteria then turns to plaque, a thicker bacteria paste that coats the teeth. As plaque builds up and hardens, it turns into tartar or calculus. Tartar can only be removed by professional cleanings, and at this point, your regular at-home oral hygiene routine won’t be able to reverse gum disease.
Tartar is filled with bacteria, which causes it to irritate the gum line. Over time, bacteria will begin eating away at the healthy gum tissue and create pockets under the gum line, near the tooth roots. Periodontal pockets harbor bacteria that causes the jaw bone to weaken and deteriorate, leading to tooth loss.
We want to avoid this at all costs.
Signs & Symptoms of Gum Disease
There are different symptoms of gum disease, depending on the stage of progressions. Gum disease begins as gingivitis, progresses to periodontitis, then progresses to advanced periodontitis.
- Gums bleed when brushing, or spitting blood when brushing teeth
- Dark red or bright red gums
- Swollen, shiny, inflamed gums
- Painful gums, tender to the touch
- Receding gums
- Chronic bad breath
- Gum or mouth sores
Signs of Stage 2 Gum Disease: Early Periodontitis
- Bright red or purplish gums
- Tender, sore gums
- Bleeding regularly when brushing teeth
- Pus between/around teeth and gums
- Pinkish toothbrush after brushing
Signs of Stage 3 Gum Disease: Mild/Moderate Periodontitis
- Severely receding gums
- Loose or wiggling teeth
- Gum abscesses
- Pockets forming in gums
- Exposed tooth roots
- Considerable jaw pain
- Teeth are suddenly uneven when jaw is closed
Signs of Stage 4 Gum Disease: Advanced Periodontitis
- Tooth loss
- Jaw bone loss
- Exposed tooth roots
- Severe pain
- Pus and abscesses in the gums
Who can develop gum disease?
According to the NIH, nearly half (47%) of all adults ages 30 and older have periodontitis!
The risk of gum disease is higher as you age, however, anybody can develop gum disease — and an increased percentage of young adults are being diagnosed with gum disease today.
Maintaining a strong and consistent oral hygiene routine is imperative at every age.
- Poor oral hygiene
- Failure to brush and/or floss regularly
- Smoking and chewing tobacco
- Pre-existing conditions (diabetes, Chron's disease, HIV/AIDS, obesity)
- Hormonal changes (pregnancy, menopause)
Can you treat gum disease?
The earliest stage of gum disease, gingivitis, can be treated at home with a rigorous oral hygiene routine.
Once gum disease progresses to later stages and damages your gum tissue and jaw bone, it’s critical that you schedule a treatment with us to prevent further damage.
Early detection and treatment of gum disease is the best approach, and mild cases may be treated with non-surgical methods, like scaling and root planing or LANAP therapy.
For patients with a later stage of gum disease, we offer pinhole gum rejuvenation, periodontal regeneration surgery, gum grafts, bone grafts, gum grafts and periodontal pocket reduction surgery.
At the first signs of gum disease, schedule an appointment with our highly-experienced periodontists in New Port Richey/Trinity or Tampa. We’ll create a personalized treatment plan that treats the disease, eases your symptoms and preserves as much of your healthy gum tissue as possible.
How to treat gingivitis at home:
- Commit to a strong, consistent oral hygiene routine: Brush your teeth for 2 minutes, twice a day. Floss at least once before bed. Use antibacterial mouthwash formulated for gum health.
- Kick poor habits! Don’t go to sleep without brushing and flossing your teeth. Stop smoking or chewing tobacco.
- Eat a balanced diet with lots of whole foods, vitamins and minerals. A healthy immune system is better equipped to fight gum disease.
- Don’t skip your dentist visits! Professional dental cleanings are essential for removing the plaque and tartar that you can’t clean at home.
We’re here to help you achieve and maintain a healthy mouth and healthy body for life. Early detection and treatment is key to preventing irreversible damage.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any questions. We use state-of-the-art technologies throughout our periodontal treatments in order to ensure that your experience is as comfortable and positive as possible.
Schedule an appointment with top periodontists in Tampa or Trinity/New Port Richey for the highest quality gum disease treatment near you.