Have your gums been bleeding periodically? Do they hurt when you brush or floss? Have you noticed swollen, tender, or red gums? You might have gum disease. At Bruce Gopin, DDS, MS, Dr. Bruce Gopin is well-versed in assessing gums to rule out disease and provide effective prevention and treatment plans to keep gum disease at bay.
What Is Gum Disease and What Are Its Stages?
Gum disease is characterized by soreness, swelling, redness, or infection of the tissues that support your teeth. Gum disease can take two main forms – gingivitis and periodontitis. In gingivitis, early symptoms of gum disease include inflammation of the gums, but the connective tissue and bone remain unaffected. The gums are irreversibly damaged in periodontitis, but our dentists can prevent further damage. However, when periodontitis advances, it destroys the gums, and the teeth begin to loosen or shift. It requires complex treatment to restore oral health.
What Are the Causes of Gum Disease?
Here are some causes of gum disease:
| • | Plaque that forms on the teeth and gum surface every day |
| • | Poor dental hygiene |
| • | Smoking or vaping |
| • | Genetics |
| • | Underlying diseases, such as heart disease or diabetes |
| • | Age |
What Are the Symptoms of Gum Disease?
As mentioned, gum disease has two stages. Both of these stages display different symptoms.
Here are the common symptoms of gingivitis:
| • | Red, tender gums |
| • | Bleeding while eating crunchy or hard foods |
| • | Bleeding while flossing |
| • | Bleeding while brushing |
| • | Pockets in gums |
Here are some symptoms of periodontitis:
| • | Larger pockets in gums |
| • | Pus seeping from between the gums and teeth |
| • | Loose teeth |
| • | Mouth sores |
| • | Foul smell coming from the mouth |
How Do You Prevent Gum Disease?
You can prevent the development of gum disease by practicing excellent oral hygiene. You must brush twice a day and floss once daily. If you smoke, you should consider quitting to optimize your oral health. Moreover, visit Bruce Gopin, DDS, MS for bi-annual checkups and regular professional teeth cleanings to ensure optimal gum health. Lastly, follow our recommendations to keep your gums and teeth healthy.
What Does Gum Disease Treatment Entail?
Gum disease treatment depends on the stage and severity of the disease and the patient’s individual needs. At Bruce Gopin, DDS, MS, Dr. Bruce Gopin will assess your gum health and decide on a treatment plan. Ideally, we will start with scaling, a cleaning procedure to scrape away tartar and plaque buildup. Then, we will use root planing to smoothen the tooth root surfaces to discourage plaque accumulation and encourage effortless gum attachment.
If you are dealing with a gum infection, we might prescribe antibiotics. We might also use pocket-reduction surgery to fold back the gum tissue and expose tooth roots for a more meticulous scaling and root planing process. Additionally, depending on the severity of the condition, we will transplant tissue from the roof of your mouth to build strong gum tissue around the teeth and place small bone to encourage bone regeneration.
If you require treatment for gum disease, call us at 915-213-3455. We will schedule an appointment so that our dentists can provide you with an effective treatment plan.