Gum disease is one of the most common oral problems presented in dentistry. Still, very few people are aware that they have the disease, until the problem is far much advanced. The problem with gum disease is that it manifests differently on different patients. Needless to say, one symptom may be more pronounced on one patient, and completely non-existent for another. These discrepancies are why periodontics exists in dentistry. You no longer have to figure out the health of your gum tissues, since the dentist can do that for you.

More About Periodontal Disease

It is a condition that features the infection of the gum tissue, otherwise known as the periodontium. This is why it is called periodontal disease.

When the disease first begins, it is usually a mild infection in the gum tissue. At this stage, you may barely detect it, unless you see a dental expert. After a while, the disease begins to progress into something more serious. This is why there is a categorization for the stages of gum disease.

• Gingivitis – is the initial stage of the infection. Not much can be noticed here, apart from a few signs of infection. Some common symptoms for this stage of gum disease are mouth sores, swelling, tenderness of the gum tissue, mild pain, to mention a few.
• Periodontitis – is an advanced stage of periodontal disease. The symptoms are worse, so much so that you can no longer ignore the infection. Some common symptoms associated with this stage of gum infection are bleeding, pain in the gums, wobbly teeth, receded gums, and teeth falling out. A dentist in Phoenix will tell you that this is not a stage of gum infection that you can ignore. Besides, are you willing to wait until you lose a tooth or more to the infection?

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Treatment Options Available for Gum Disease

Periodontal treatment comes in different forms. Usually it depends on the kind of symptoms you are experiencing, as well as the stage of the disease you are at. These factors are important so that the dentist can figure out which treatment would best work for your case.

Many treatments can work for gum disease. Some conditions will require drastic measures, while others can simply be treated with non-surgical measures. There is no one-treatment-fits-all. The common ones employed for gum disease treatment include:

• Lifestyle changes – it is nothing the therapy you get in a dental facility. Instead, it involves the different things you have to adjust in your daily life routine to reduce the risks of gum infection.
  • Quit smoking and all tobacco usage
  • Reduce your intake of alcohol
  • Employ better oral hygiene routines – examples include, brushing your teeth at least twice every day, flossing regularly, using mouthwash to rinse out your mouth, change up your toothbrush, to mention a few.
  • Consider regular deep cleans
• Medication – usually in the form of antibiotics and pain relievers. They will help alleviate the pain while getting rid of the infection in your mouth.
  • Antibiotic microspheres
  • Oral antibiotics
  • Antibiotic gel
• Surgical treatments – these drastic measures are taken for severe periodontal disease.
  • Gum grafting – to replace the damaged gum tissue.
  • Bone grafting – to replace the damaged bone tissue.
  • Laser treatment – to get rid of all damaged soft tissues in the oral cavity.
  • Flap surgery – allows the dentist to remove plaque and tartar from the roots of your teeth.

​Is Gum Disease Life-threatening?

Gum infection cannot be described as a life-threatening oral problem. However, it has immense effects on the oral cavity, that can devastate the health of your mouth a lot. Some of the consequences of the infection include:

• Bad breath – dues to plaque build-up
• Dental cavities and decay
• Abscessed teeth
• Deeply damaged gum and bone tissues
• Loose teeth – which can end up falling off

All these risks can deteriorate your dental health tremendously, causing some irreversible damages. Thankfully, gum disease can be treated, as is shown above. Be sure to reach out to your dentist as soon as you suspect an infection in your mouth. After all, the earlier you catch it, the easier it is to treat, without suffering permanent damage.