Your gums are crucial for supporting your overall oral health. They keep your teeth firmly attached to your jaw, protect sensitive tooth roots, and maintain the alignment of your smile. If you suffer from periodontal (gum) disease, this can cause your gums to break down and recede, leading to tooth loss as well as further complications if left untreated. Luckily, at Davie Advanced Dentistry, Dr. Abbo specializes in periodontics to improve and protect your gum health.
Dr. Abbo and our staff are dedicated to keeping your smile healthy and beautiful. Explore our guide to learn more about gum disease, how you can prevent it, and our treatment options we offer at our Davie practice.
Periodontal (gum) disease is an oral infection that begins in the gums and can spread throughout the rest of your mouth. The disease starts when bacteria accumulates around your teeth due to inconsistent oral hygiene and dental care. This causes a buildup of plaque, which is a white film of bacteria that’s deposited onto your teeth by food, beverages, mucus, and smoking. If left untreated, this plaque hardens and becomes tartar, which develops between your gums and teeth.
The best way to prevent gum disease is to maintain a proper oral hygiene routine. This includes brushing your teeth and flossing daily, as well as scheduling biannual visits at our Davie office with Dr. Abbo so that your teeth and gums can be cleaned.
Gum disease can negatively impact your gums depending on the severity of your case. As it progresses, your symptoms can become more severe over time. Other signs include:
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s important to contact our Davie practice immediately to schedule an evaluation. Thanks to our dedicated team, we’ll find a solution that will clear the infection and repair any damage.
There are two distinct stages of gum disease that can develop depending on the severity of your infection. During your evaluation with one of our dentists, they’ll determine how far the infection has spread throughout the rest of your gums.
Gingivitis is an early stage of gum disease that’s easily manageable with treatment. During this stage, only your gums are affected and appear red and inflamed. While you may not feel any discomfort, it’s important to seek professional care, as it’s easily reversible with a deep cleaning as well as proper oral hygiene.
If left untreated, gingivitis eventually turns into periodontitis, which is a more serious stage of gum disease. At this point, the bacteria is affecting both the gums and the surrounding bone. You may start to notice symptoms including gum recession, swollen soft tissue, and bleeding when brushing your teeth.
For patients suffering from gingivitis, your dentist may only need to conduct a professional cleaning to remove any bacteria that may be causing the infection. These cleanings involve using specialized dental tools to remove plaque and tartar from any hard-to-reach areas within your mouth. This is the same type of cleaning you receive during your biannual appointments with our Davie practice, so they’re non-invasive and completely comfortable.
Scaling and root planing is recommended for patients with cases of periodontitis. When your gums begin to recede and expose the roots of your teeth, this can lead to further issues. The scaling process begins with your dentist removing tartar and bacteria from under your gums to stop the infection. Root planing involves smoothing the connective tissue below your tooth to eliminate spaces for bacteria to hide in.
The best way to prevent gum disease and costly dental treatments is to practice a consistent oral health care routine. Our dentists recommend taking the following steps to ensure you have optimal oral health:
Gum disease is caused when bacteria builds-up on and beneath your gums as a result of neglecting your teeth. This bacteria eventually hardens into a substance known as tartar, which increases the risk of infection. If gum disease is allowed to progress, it could leave you more susceptible to many other health conditions including tooth loss, heart disease, and stroke.
Once there is an infection, gum disease will not go away on its own unless you seek professional dental treatment. If caught early during the stage of gingivitis, it’s possible to get rid of the bacteria without invasive surgery. However, if neglected for too long, the infection will develop into periodontitis and will require more extensive minor surgery.
While the main cause of gum disease is neglecting your oral health, there are also other factors that are known to increase your risk of infection. Some of these include:
Both of our treatments are relatively painless and only cause minor discomfort. Our staff at Davie Advanced Dentistry are dedicated to making you feel as safe and comfortable as possible during your procedure. It’s important to schedule a consultation with Dr. Abbo to learn more about our treatments and if you have any questions.
