Gum Disease Treatment – Bristol, CT
Safe and Effective Gum Health Restoration
Your gums are as integral to your oral health as soil is to an ecosystem. That’s because within them are the blueprints necessary to rebuild and maintain strong and functional teeth. Thus, it’s of the utmost importance to keep your gums healthy. Because the environment inside your mouth is so dynamic, the natural balance can be interrupted, which can lead to gum (periodontal) disease. Thankfully, when you visit Bristol Family Dental, our dentists can help you recover so that you can lead a normal and healthy life. To get the help you need, don’t hesitate to contact us today to request a visit.
What Gum Disease is and the Different Stages
Gum disease is the infection and inflammation of the soft tissue. If unaddressed, the condition only gets worse over time. The following outlines the different stages:
- Gingivitis – This is the first stage of the disease, where light bleeding may be noticed when performing oral hygiene. This is the most important time to visit us for treatment, as any damage caused by the advancing decay is usually still reversible.
- Periodontitis – At this point, bacteria may have caused permanent damage to the ligaments and bone that secure your teeth. As a result, there may also be signs of gum recession.
- Advanced Periodontitis – At its most advanced stage, gum disease can cause the tooth roots to dissolve. Thus, your teeth can begin to shift or even dislodge.
How Gum Disease Can Affect Your Overall Health
Your oral health can be considered as a window to your total wellness. Thus, if gum disease goes untreated, the blood that permeates them can become inflamed. As it travels to other parts of the body, the inflammation transported from your gums can lead to such problems as hypertension, heart disease, stroke, several forms of cancer and complications with diabetes. Thus, receiving the treatment you need for gum disease could ultimately be a life-saving decision.
Signs and Symptoms
One of the best ways to catch gum disease in Bristol early is to visit our office semi-annually for checkups and cleanings. Therefore, you can avoid the need for complex forms of care to restore your oral health. It also helps to know what warning signs to be on the lookout for.
If you notice any of the following, then you shouldn’t hesitate to contact us:
- Red, puffy or swollen gums
- Receding gums or loose teeth
- Tooth pain when you bite into food
- Foul taste in the mouth that lingers
- Bad breath that can’t seem to be resolved
- Consistent gum bleeding when you perform oral hygiene
What Causes Gum Disease?
The primary nemeses to your gum health are bacteria. Ironically, they are needed to maintain your oral health, but when they become unbalanced and are allowed to grow uncontrollably, hundreds of different types can form plaque. The sticky substance can cling to the teeth and at the gum line to eventually work its way beneath to cause germ pockets to form, and inflammation and infection of the gums. The sooner the issue is treated, the less invasive and complex the procedure has to be. In fact, in the earlier stages, some patients only need to make some slight changes in their oral hygiene practices to see improvements.
How Gum Disease Can be Treated
If simply making lifestyle changes won’t suffice for reversing gum disease, then our dentists may recommend a two-step procedure called a scaling and root planing. The first part involves your periodontist in Bristol using special tools to remove plaque and tartar that have collected beneath the gum line. Then, to prevent any new accumulation, the root planing smooths the base of the tooth and helps the gums re-attach to it. With your gum health restored, you can move forward with your life and make the necessary changes to avoid any future issues.