Periodontal Disease
Understanding Periodontal Disease: The Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention
Are your gums tender, red, or swollen? This could be a sign of periodontal disease. Although it starts with mild symptoms, gum disease is a severe oral condition. If left untreated, it can damage your gingival tissues and cause tooth loss! Worse yet, uncontrolled oral infection can seep into the bloodstream, increasing the risk of heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, and other systemic conditions.
The team at Kelli Brady DDS is dedicated to preventing and treating gum disease. If you suspect gum disease, schedule an appointment with Dr. Kelli Brady is available at any of our offices in Norwood, New Jersey, and New York, NY.
What are the symptoms of gum disease?
Gum disease occurs when dental plaque—a mixture of saliva, food debris, and harmful bacteria—thrives in the mouth. If not removed with flossing and brushing, the bacteria in plaque secrete toxic substances that inflame the gums, causing gingivitis (the earliest stage of gum disease).
The following are the early signs of gum disease.
- Bleeding gums, especially when brushing or flossing
- Swollen gums
- Tender gums
- Foul breath even after brushing
Gum disease is unforgiving. If you fail to treat it, the condition progresses into a more severe and non-reversible form. With time, you’ll notice your gums start pulling away from teeth (receding), exposing the tooth roots. Eventually, the harmful bacteria can attack the teeth-supporting bone, causing loosening teeth and tooth loss.
How is gum disease diagnosed and treated?
First, we’ll assess your gums for redness, swelling, and bleeding. Then, we’ll use a periodontal probe (a small millimeter ruler) to measure the depth between your gums and your bone. In healthy gums, the sulcus is typically no deeper than 2-3mm. If it exceeds this depth, it may indicate gum disease. The higher the readings, the more advanced the gum disease may be.
Treating gum disease depends on its severity. We can reverse gingivitis with standard cleanings and optimal oral hygiene of brushing, flossing, and using an oral rinse. If you have moderate to severe gum disease, we recommend deep teeth cleaning—a non-surgical treatment that combines scaling and root planing to overcome the disease. Periodontal cleaning removes plaque and tartar from the deep pockets and your roots to promote healing.
Is gum disease preventable?
Prevention is the most effective way of controlling periodontal disease. You can avert gum disease by following these tips:
- Brush and floss diligently
- Visit a dentist twice annually for dental exams and cleanings
- Quit smoking
- Eat a dental-friendly diet, low in sugar and acid
- Keep your mouth hydrated
- Manage immune-suppressing conditions like diabetes and HIV/Aids
Don’t let gum disease damage your gums
Do you suspect gum disease? Act quickly before this oral condition causes irreversible damage. Schedule your appointment today in any of our convenient locations in Norwood, NJ (201) 806-6866 and Manhattan, New York, NY (646) 692-0227.
