Regular dental checkups and periodontal exams are crucial for maintaining healthy gums and teeth, as they allow your dentist to detect early signs of periodontal disease before it progresses. By practicing proper oral hygiene at home, you can significantly lower your risk of developing gum disease. Be sure to brush regularly, floss between your teeth, eat a balanced diet, and schedule routine dental visits to keep your smile bright and healthy.

Brushing and flossing thoroughly helps remove plaque before it hardens into tartar (calculus) due to the minerals in saliva. If left untreated, tartar continues to accumulate, irritating the gums and affecting the seal between your gums and teeth. This makes it easier for bacteria to infiltrate the vulnerable spaces between your teeth and gums, leading to pockets of infection. Over time, untreated gum disease can progress to tooth decay or loss.

Gum disease develops in two stages: gingivitis and periodontitis. Gingivitis, the early stage, is caused by plaque buildup that irritates the gums, making them inflamed, red, swollen, and prone to bleeding during brushing. At this point, no irreversible damage has been done to the teeth or bone, and the condition can often be treated successfully without surgery.

If gingivitis goes untreated, it can progress to periodontitis, a more severe form of gum disease. Periodontitis leads to significant, irreversible damage to the gums and bone that support the teeth. The gums may pull away from the teeth, causing teeth to loosen in their sockets. In advanced cases, surgical intervention may be necessary to stop the disease’s progression and prevent further damage to your oral health.

While plaque accumulation is the primary cause of gum disease, certain factors increase the risk, such as conditions that weaken the immune system (e.g., cancer, HIV, or diabetes), hormonal changes (e.g., pregnancy), and medications like steroids, anti-epileptic drugs, cancer treatment medications, and oral contraceptives. Other risk factors include smoking, teeth grinding, old dental work, misaligned teeth, poor oral hygiene, and a family history of periodontal disease.

Gum disease can develop silently, with few obvious signs, even in its later stages. However, symptoms like red, swollen, irritated, or receding gums, bad breath, or loose teeth may indicate the presence of gum disease and warrant periodontal treatment.

The goal of periodontal treatment is to reduce infection, swelling, and pocket depth while stopping the disease's progression and promoting the healing of the gums. Treatment options vary depending on the stage of the disease, individual responses, and overall health. For early-stage gum disease, non-surgical treatments are often effective, while more advanced cases may require periodontal surgery or dental implants. One common treatment is scaling and root planing, which removes plaque and tartar from the teeth and smooths out rough areas on the tooth roots to help promote healing. In some cases, antibiotic powder, like Arestin, may be placed in the gum pockets to further reduce inflammation and support healing.

At The Art of Smile Dental, we are committed to helping you achieve a beautiful smile and maintain healthy teeth and gums for a lifetime. No matter the current state of your gums, now is the perfect time to take the first step toward better dental health. To discuss your periodontal treatment options or schedule an appointment, contact The Art of Smile Dental today.