If you are experiencing red and swollen gums, or if your gums are bleeding when you brush your teeth, you may be showing signs of gum disease. Without proper treatment, gum disease can worsen and cause a multitude of dental issues and other health issues. Many people ignore the symptoms of gum disease, thinking it will go away on its own, but unfortunately, that isn’t the case. So, what do you need to know about gum disease and how to treat it?
What Is Gum Disease?
Since nearly fifty percent of adults suffer from gum disease, our dental office focuses on educating our patients and working to prevent this potentially dangerous condition. Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is caused by an infection in your gums due to plaque and bacteria that accumulate below your gumline. Sadly, brushing and flossing at home isn’t enough to remove this plaque and bacteria, so your dentist needs to intervene with gum disease treatment options.
Gum Disease Treatment Options in Vallejo, CA
There are several different factors to consider before your dentist can decide which gum disease treatment is right for you; these factors include the following:
- Your stage of gum disease
- Your overall health
- Your oral health
- Your willingness to work on your oral hygiene at home
If you have one of the earlier forms of gum disease, namely gingivitis or mild periodontitis, you can receive the following gum disease treatment:
Routine dental cleanings – Your dentist will remove plaque and tartar from your teeth in a similar fashion to a routine dental cleaning. With improved home care and dental cleanings, gingivitis can likely be reversed.
Scaling and root planing – This procedure is a deep cleaning that goes beneath your gumline to the root surfaces of your teeth. Once the cleaning process is complete, your dental professional will smooth the root surfaces to keep plaque and bacteria from building up again and reattaching to your teeth.
Antibiotic treatment – Sometimes, antibiotics are prescribed as part of your gum disease treatment.
If your gum disease is more severe, you may need a periodontist to perform either laser or surgical gum disease treatment. The different surgical interventions include the following:
- Laser periodontal therapy
- Pocket reduction surgery
Do You Need Periodontal Treatment in Vallejo, CA?
If you would like more information about gum disease prevention and treatment in Vallejo, CA, the experienced staff in our dental office is ready to help! We care about your oral health and want to help you build healthy habits that last a lifetime. Please get in touch with us at (707) 643-2660 to schedule an appointment.