September is Self-Improvement Month, so it’s the perfect time to analyse your dental health and make improvements where needed. If you have symptoms of gum disease, it’s important to understand that it’s not just your oral health in jeopardy. Gum disease has been linked in multiple studies to other diseases of the body, including heart disease and certain types of cancers. Fortunately, gum disease treatment can improve your oral health and your overall health.
Gum Disease Stages
Stage One: Plaque Attack
Continuing our criminal metaphor, you might know gum disease by its sinister alias: gingivitis. As nasty as it sounds, it manifests as an inflammation of the gum tissue, caused by a buildup of plaque formation on the teeth and gumline.
Gingivitis refers to the early stages of gum disease. If your dentist diagnoses you with gingivitis, the treatment options are often minimally invasive. With a professional dental cleaning, followed up by a regular regimen of brushing and flossing, gingivitis can usually be reversed.
So far, so good – unless things take a turn for the worse.
Stage Two: Bone Burrowing
Periodontitis is the more advanced form of gum disease. While periodontitis can still be treated, your dental professional may have to use more invasive techniques, like scaling and deep cleaning of the surfaces of your roots, or removing germs and plaque from beneath your gumline, according to the Mayo Clinic.
But periodontitis doesn’t just affect your gums. It can also cause tissue and bone loss throughout the mouth. If this has already occurred, your dental professional may recommend you see a dental specialist who is a periodontist, who can recommend more advanced procedures that help regenerate the bone and tissue you’ve lost.
Common Symptoms of Gum Disease
You can prevent the more advanced stages of the disease in surprisingly easy ways. Just maintaining a regular brushing and flossing routine goes a long way.
In the meantime, keep a sharp eye out for these seven symptoms:
- Swollen, red gums
- Gums that bleed easily
- Constant bad breath
- Gums that have pulled away (recession) from the teeth
- Pus in between the teeth
- Changes in bite
- Loose permanent teeth
We end on a note of caution – keep your guard up even if you think your mouth looks spotless. You may still have gum disease even if you don’t display any of these symptoms.
When left untreated, gum disease can have a negative impact on everyday life. Embarrassment from bad breath and swollen gums can affect personal and professional relationships and lead to social anxiety. Pain from inflamed gum tissue can affect daily activities like speaking and eating. If you’re ready to take control of your oral health and self-confidence during Self-Improvement Month, gum disease treatment is an important step in the right direction.
Treatment Options
Dr. Janice Kaeley offers periodontal maintenance therapy to prevent the progression of gum disease and help you avoid additional dental problems. He also offers LANAP® laser gum disease treatment, which is a more comfortable, minimally invasive alternative to standard gum surgery.
SCHEDULE YOUR CONSULTATION TODAY
If you are interested in getting pinhole surgery, the next best step for you to take is to schedule a Consultation with Dr. Kaeley by calling (925) 860-7071. During this appointment, Dr. Kaeley will perform a full oral examination and answer all your questions.
ABOUT YOUR PLEASANTON, CA, PERIODONTIST DR. KAELEY:
We look forward to providing families with exceptional care and advanced treatment options. To Schedule An Appointment with Dr. Kaeley contact our San Ramon, CA, dental office today by calling (925) 860-7071. Our office at 9301 Fircrest Lane Suite 5 San Ramon, CA 94583 welcomes new patients in and around San Ramon, CA, including Dublin, Pleasanton, Danville, Blackhawk, Walnut Creek, Lafayette, Castro Valley, Pleasant Hill and the surrounding Contra Costa County communities.
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