You’ve been so busy preparing for the holidays that you haven’t been flossing very much lately. You consider making flossing more your New Year’s resolution, but even putting it off for that long could have dire consequences, mainly gum disease, which can cause bleeding gums and tooth loss. Read on to discover more about gum disease, including whether it can be cured.
What Is Gum Disease?
Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, occurs when bacteria infect the gum tissue. If your gums are red, sore, tender, swollen, or bleed when you brush and floss, you might have the first stage of gum disease, called gingivitis. If left untreated, gingivitis can quickly progress to the second stage, called periodontitis. At this stage, bacteria begin attacking the structures that keep your teeth firmly rooted in your gums, accelerating tooth loss. In fact, gum disease is the number one cause of tooth loss in the United States.
How Does Gum Disease Develop?
Bacteria in plaque is the biggest culprit of periodontal disease. Plaque is a stocky, colorless biofilm that constantly develops on your teeth. Daily brushing and flossing can disrupt it, but neglecting your oral hygiene can cause plaque to harden into tartar, which only a dentist can remove.
Can You Cure Gum Disease?
Gingivitis can often be treated with increased brushing and flossing at home and possibly a teeth cleaning at your dentist’s office. Periodontitis, on the other hand, is a bit more difficult to treat. However, it is definitely possible. The main method that your dentist will employ is known as scaling and root planing.
Scaling involves using an ultrasonic cleaning instrument to completely remove any plaque and tartar that has accumulated beneath the gumline. Then, root planing entails reshaping and smoothing the rough edges of the roots of your teeth. This prevents bacteria from sticking to them and causing reinfection in the future. After that, you might be asked to come in for more frequent dental cleanings to keep your disease in check.
Gum disease is a serious condition that can result in the loss of your teeth. However, it can be cured with increased oral hygiene as well as scaling and root planing. Make sure to brush and floss diligently to keep from getting gum disease in the first place!
About the Author
Dr. Robert Blake graduated from Georgetown University with his dental degree almost four decades ago. He moved to his current location in Beverly, MA in 1996 and never looked back. His practice offers periodontal therapy like scaling and root planing to treat gum disease. If you suspect you might have gum disease, don’t be afraid to visit Dr. Blake’s website.