Professional dental cleaning. Scaling removes tartar and bacteria from your tooth surfaces and beneath your gums. Root planning removes the bacterial products produced by inflammation, smooths the root surfaces, discouraging further buildup of tartar and bacteria, and allows proper healing.
While gum disease can be effectively treated in the early stages, advanced periodontal disease, often called periodontitis, can't be reversed.
It's never too late to seek treatment for gum disease, and the degree of treatment you require will depend on how advanced it is.
Periodontitis (per-e-o-don-TIE-tis), also called gum disease, is a serious gum infection that damages the soft tissue around teeth. Without treatment, periodontitis can destroy the bone that supports your teeth. This can cause teeth to loosen or lead to tooth loss.
But for those with gingivitis due to poor oral hygiene, the average time it takes for gingivitis to go away is about 10 to 14 days after your treatment, along with proper oral healthcare. Keep in mind that there are many, many factors that can change the timeline.
Periodontal disease is not a life-threatening condition. However, it might require you to seek treatments from various medical professionals when the bacteria from the infection spread to your bloodstream to affect your overall health.
Periodontitis isn't curable, but it's manageable with proper care and treatment. Talk to your dentist or periodontist about a personalized treatment and maintenance plan.
Periodontitis Stage 1: Initial. Periodontitis Stage 2: Moderate. Periodontitis Stage 3: Severe with potential for tooth loss. Periodontitis Stage 4: Severe with potential for loss of all the teeth.
If you have gum disease, your gums may bleed when you brush your teeth and you may have bad breath. This early stage of gum disease is known as gingivitis. If gingivitis isn't treated, a condition called periodontitis can develop. This affects more tissues that support teeth and hold them in place.
While LISTERINE® mouthwash products can help prevent early gum disease, they are not indicated to treat periodontitis.
Stage 4: Progressive Periodontitis
This stage involves teeth looseness, shifting teeth, red, swollen and painful gums, often forming an abscess. The end result — eating and even smiling is hard and painful, and you may lose most of your teeth.
Can gum disease spread through kissing? Periodontal disease isn't contagious through casual contact. Sharing saliva and bacteria, such as kissing, with someone who has gum disease can increase the likelihood of transmitting it to their partner.
In its early stage, called gingivitis, the gums can become swollen and red, and they may bleed. In its more serious form, called periodontitis, the gums can pull away from the tooth, bone can be lost, and the teeth may loosen or even fall out. Periodontal disease is mostly seen in adults.
Research proves a saltwater rinse containing 0.9 percent to 1.8 percent sodium chloride helps heal the gums. In addition, disinfectant properties are present in salt, helping kill harmful bacteria in the mouth while easing swelling and pain in the infected gums.
CORSODYL DAILY TOOTHPASTE HELPS STOP AND PREVENT BLEEDING GUMS. If you spit blood when you brush or floss, it can be a sign you have gum problems. Corsodyl Daily toothpaste is a specialist toothpaste specifically designed to help keep gums healthy and help put a stop to bleeding gums.
When gum disease is caught early, it is easiest to treat. Properly brushing and flossing on a daily basis can help to reverse early gum disease in as little as 30 days. Using an antimicrobial mouthwash can also be beneficial.
The progression of periodontal disease is slow but steady. It only takes four days for plaque to reach its maximum extent, so you'll be able to physically see signs of gingivitis on day 5. Advanced stages of this disease can be seen in as little as a few weeks if you have not tried to reverse the gingivitis.
How Far Can Gums Recede? Gums can recede to the extent at which the uppermost portion of the root becomes visible. Damage can also extend to the ligament and the bone, where it cannot be seen. Prompt care for receding gums is important to avoid significant consequences.
The Prevalence of Gum Disease
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently did a study to regarding those who suffer from gum disease. The study confirmed that almost 50 percent of adults in the U.S., who are over the age of 30, have the advanced form of periodontal disease, or gum disease.
Stage 3: Advanced Periodontitis
As the infection worsens, the pockets may also fill with pus. At this point your teeth might loosen or fall out. This stage of gum disease is irreversible, though dental implants (replacement teeth) are one option for people suffering from serious periodontitis.
Water is always beneficial to your teeth and gums. Drinking water, along with brushing and flossing, is one of the most effective strategies to avoid cavities and gum disease. Simply by drinking water throughout the day, you may prevent plaque formation and protect your tooth enamel.
There are many ways teeth can be saved with periodontal treatment using bone and gum grafts. Teeth can also be fixed with crowns and dental repair material if they are broken down. Missing teeth can be replaced with bridges and/or dentures if the person wants to avoid placing dental implants into their mouth.