But how do you know if already have gum disease? And what kinds of periodontal treatment are available?
Symptoms of Gingivitis
Recognizing the signs of developing gingivitis, the least severe form of periodontal disease, will help you know when to take steps to reverse it and when to schedule an appointment with an experienced, local periodontist.
Symptoms you may have gingivitis include the following:
- Your gum tissue is red and/or inflamed, at least in some areas.
- You notice your gums bleed easily when brushing/flossing, even when you do it properly (not too hard.)
- Your gum line is noticeably receding.
- Your teeth seem more sensitive to hot/cold lately.
- You are suffering from halitosis (chronic bad breath), and people are beginning to notice.
Symptoms of Periodontitis
If your gum disease reaches the second stage, periodontitis, it is getting very serious and you badly need periodontal treatment.
Here are some signs that periodontitis has set in:
- Your gums have turned “bright red” and are badly swollen.
- You can’t even touch your gums without feeling tenderness and/or some level of pain.
- Periodontal tissue and underlying bone are deteriorating, leading to loosened teeth and/or a misaligned bite.
- Infected pockets of gum tissue are forming between some of your teeth.
- Your halitosis is worsening and there is an unpleasant taste that lingers in your mouth.
- You even spot pus in some infected areas of your gums.
Advanced Periodontitis
If you fail to get the necessary periodontal treatment, periodontitis can worsen yet further into “advanced” periodontitis. Symptoms include everything in the preceding stage, only at a more severe level, and bone loss accelerates until tooth loss, loose teeth, and misaligned teeth are common.
Periodontal Treatment Options
What kind of periodontal treatment you need will vary greatly based upon what stage you are at in the periodontal disease progression.
In the gingivitis stage, you may need to simply get a good teeth cleaning, implement good oral hygiene habits, or maybe undergo root scaling and planing to get plaque build-up off your teeth roots. The new pinhole surgical graft method, a less invasive technique that corrects gum recession, may be an option as well.
In more advanced cases (periodontitis), laser periodontal surgery may be the most effective and least painful method. But oral sedation and local anesthetic can minimize discomfort in any periodontal treatment technique.
Only an oral exam and the opinion of a skilled dentist or periodontist will reveal the exact state of your gums and precisely what may be the best periodontal treatment for you.
To learn more about periodontal treatment or to schedule a periodontal check-up, in Volusia & Flagler Counties, FL, contact periodontist Dr. Raymond A. Kenzik today.