Gum Disease

Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, is one of the top causes of tooth loss in adults. Gum disease is an infection that surrounds the teeth, but it is typically pain-free, so you might not even notice that you have it. When you have your regular checkup at Mint Dental, a member of our dental team will measure the space between your teeth and gums to check for gum disease. By catching gum disease early, we can treat it and prevent tooth loss. Schedule your appointment today so you can stop gum disease in its tracks.

What Causes Gum Disease?

You may have heard that an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Well, brushing and flossing every day prevents gum disease. That’s because gum disease occurs when plaque builds up in the teeth. Plaque is the sticky bacteria that you remove by brushing, flossing, and coming to Mint Dental for regular checkups. If you fail to remove the plaque, it will continue to build up and over time, it will create toxins that can damage the gums. It will eventually turn into periodontal disease. At that point, small pockets will form right underneath the gum line. The small pockets separate the gums and the teeth, which is why we always check the space between your teeth and gums when conducting routine dental exams.

Stages of Gum Disease

Gum disease has two stages. It starts with gingivitis and then continues into periodontitis. If possible, we like to catch it when it is in the gingivitis stage and prevent it from progressing into periodontitis.

• Gingivitis — If you have red and swollen gums that bleed easily, you might have gingivitis. You still have the power to reverse gum disease on your own during this stage by brushing and flossing after every meal and before bed.
• Periodontitis — If gingivitis progresses to peritonitis, the disease causes irreversible damage to the gums and the bone. When this happens, the teeth become loose and might even fall out. If they don’t fall out, they will likely have to be removed by a dentist. You want to prevent this if possible. If you already have periodontitis, contact Mint Dental and schedule a consultation. We can go over the options for restoring your smile. Our team of compassionate dentists will help you get your smile and your confidence back.

Risk Factors for Gum Disease

Inadequate brushing and flossing habits can cause gum disease. But there are also certain risk factors that increase your chances of developing this problem. Some of the risk factors can be avoided, while others cannot.

Risk factors include:

• Smoking
• Chewing tobacco
• Taking certain types of medications, including steroids, cancer therapy drugs, calcium channel blockers, oral contraceptives, and anti-epilepsy drugs
• Pregnancy
• Bridges that no longer fit properly
• Crooked teeth
• Old fillings

If you have a dental issue that is increasing your likelihood of developing periodontal disease, contact Mint Dental immediately. Our team of dentists can quickly fix your problem, reducing your chances of developing this disease.

Symptoms of Periodontal Disease

Many people don’t realize they have periodontal disease. Then, by the time they notice something is wrong, the disease has progressed. Fortunately, there are some warning symptoms. Look out for these symptoms so you can get to the dentist and fix the problem.

Symptoms include:

• Bleeding, red, swollen, and tender gums
• Gums that have pulled away from the teeth
• Bad breath
• Bad taste in the mouth
• Pus between your teeth and gums
• Loose permanent teeth
• Changes in your bite
• Changes in the fit of your partial dentures

Treating Gum Disease

If you have gum disease, all hope is not lost. The professionals at Mint Dental are skilled at treating gum disease, even if itdisease has progressed to the second stage.

Non-surgical treatments are a popular choice. These treatments include at-home periodontal trays, scaling, and root planing. Root planing is a deep cleaning that eliminates the plaque from under the gums.

In more severe cases, you might require periodontal surgery or laser gum surgery to repair the damage so that your gums will be able to support your teeth once again. At that point, we can provide dental implants. The implants will make your smile look like new.

Preventing Gum Disease

Of course, the best case scenario is to avoid gum disease. First, of course, you should avoid as many of the risk factors as possible. That includes quitting smoking and contacting Mint Dental to fix any dental issues that put you at risk for the disease.

You also need to practice good oral hygiene at home. That includes brushing and flossing after all meals and before bed.

Finally, visit Mint Dental for your yearly cleanings and examinations. We can provide a deep cleaning you can’t get at home. We remove plaque you can’t reach and check for the early signs of gum disease.