Gum Disease in West Bend

What Is Periodontal Gum Disease?

Periodontal gingival disease begins as an infection or inflammation of the gums that secure your teeth to your jaw bone. Reversing gingival disease in its primary stage of gingivitis has a very good success rate. However, if you wait until it becomes periodontal disease, then you can only ameliorate the damage; there is no gingivitis cure at this point.

What Causes Gingivitis to Start?

The primary cause of gum disease and the resulting symptoms is inadequate oral hygiene. If you have good oral hygiene habits, but they're limited to once daily, then that's inadequate and won't deter the development of gingivitis symptoms.

After you eat, a sticky substance called plaque begins to form in your mouth, and it attaches to your teeth. Plaque is rife with bacteria, and when the plaque isn't removed from your teeth through brushing or flossing, then it settles between

your teeth and gums and turns into tartar. Only a dental professional can remove tartar – it's a very hard substance. When plaque remains on your teeth, it begins to irritate and inflame your gums. This is the beginning of gingival disease, but if your dentist administers a gingivitis cure at this point, the condition is curable, and the damage can be reversed.

Are There Symptoms of Gum Disease?

You can have gum disease for a long time without being aware of it because it sometimes presents asymptomatically and it's often not accompanied by pain. When the symptoms begin to appear, though, they'll probably be as follows:

• Bad breath
• Unusual taste in your mouth
• Inflamed gums
• Swollen gums
• Sensitive gums
• Bleeding during flossing or brushing

If you notice any of these gum disease symptoms, call our West Bend office to schedule a dental appointment.

Are There Gum Disease Signs?

When you come to our West Bend office for your dental exam, your dentist may recognize the signs of gum disease due to the following:

• Inflammation at the bottom of your gums
• Receding gums
• Loosened teeth
• Irregular spacing between your teeth
• Pus between your gums and teeth
• Swollen gums

If your dentist notices any of these, they'll probably recommend a gum disease treatment regimen that's tailored to your gingivitis symptoms and the stage of your gum disease.

Are There Different Gum Disease Stages?

Gum disease has three stages, but reversing gum disease is only possible during the first signs of gingivitis.

Gingivitis

This is the early stage of gum disease, and you may experience a small amount of bleeding when you floss or brush, but there's not usually any pain. You may have no symptoms at all because the disease sometimes is asymptomatic. When you have no symptoms or only mild symptoms, then our dentists can identify the signs of gingivitis and recommend a gingivitis treatment before any permanent damage is done.

Periodontitis

This is the second stage of the disease and when you've reached this stage, reversing gum disease isn't possible. You can prevent it from progressing and ameliorate the damage, but you'll have sustained permanent damage to your gums and jawbone. You'll probably have periodontal pockets at the base of your teeth that will trap food particles and plaque, which will accelerate the progression of the disease unless it's stopped.

Advanced Periodontitis

In this final stage of gingival disease, your gums and jawbone will have been destroyed, and your facial structure will be distorted. You'll have lost most or all of your teeth. If you haven't, you will. Painful and expensive reconstructive dental work is your only option at this point. It's unfortunate that so many people lose their teeth and gums to a disease that can be cured and prevented with minimal effort. For more information on gingivitis treatment and prevention, call Paradise Dental Professionals at (262) 208-5216, and we'll gladly answer all your questions or schedule an appointment for you.

Is a Gingivitis Cure Available?

Prevention is the best gingivitis cure, and early treatment can cure the disease if it has already started as long as it's still in its early stage. Call us to schedule an appointment if you think you may have gingival disease, or you want to proactively make sure that you don't.

When Is Advanced Periodontitis and Gingivitis Treatment Necessary?

If you have gum disease and conservative methods haven't worked for you, then your dentist may opt for more aggressive treatment methods. Some of the more aggressive treatment protocols include root planing, professional scaling, antibiotics, and the use of an antibacterial mouthwash. You may also be referred to a specialist – called a periodontist – for surgery. If you need professional treatment for gum disease in West Bend, then call us today, and let's get started.

Can Gum Disease Be Reversed?

When periodontal disease is caught early, a gum disease cure may be effective. However, this isn't a do-it-yourself project. It needs professional intervention to save your teeth, your jaw, your gums, and your beautiful smile. Don't delay seeking treatment for your gingivitis symptoms. Call us today. You'll be glad you did.