How Do You Cure Gum Disease Without Surgery?

Periodontal or gum disease is a common infection and inflammation of the bone and gum tissue supporting teeth. Gum infections can lead to severe gum damage, loose teeth, bone loss, and even tooth loss if left untreated. This article looks at how to cure gum disease without surgery.

How Does Gum Disease Develop?

Commonly, gum disease develops due to a buildup of bacterial plaque and tartar in the mouth. Poor diet and oral hygiene can cause harmful oral bacteria to grow and multiply. These bacteria mix with saliva and other debris to form plaque, a sticky, colorless film of bacteria. If not cleaned, plaque continues to accumulate and harden to form tartar, a hard deposit that forms on the teeth and around the gum line.

As plaque and tartar build up at the gum line, they release harmful acids that irritate and infect the gums. The gums become inflamed, sore, and red and might bleed when brushing or flossing. At this early stage, gum disease is called gingivitis. When detected promptly, gingivitis can be reversed easily.

However, if you don’t get gingivitis treated, the infection spreads and causes the gums to pull away from the teeth (recede). It allows more plaque and tartar to build up under the gum line and cause deep pockets. Over time, these pockets get deeper, expose the tooth’s roots, and infect the bone, leading to bone loss, loose teeth, tooth loss, and other serious problems.

This advanced stage of gum disease is known as periodontitis. Untreated periodontitis can cause serious health complications like heart attack, stroke, diabetes, and pneumonia. Seeking early treatment for gum disease can help prevent severe complications and maintain healthy gums.

Signs and Symptoms of Gum Disease

Since gum disease progresses gradually, symptoms may take time to show. Visit your dentist if you experience any of the following symptoms:

• Swollen, sore, or inflamed gums
• Discolored gums
• Bleeding when flossing or brushing
• Pain when biting down
• Tooth pain or sensitive
• Receding gums
• Teeth appearing longer than normal
• New spaces between teeth
• Bad breath or halitosis
• Changes in the fit of overdentures
• Loose teeth
• Pus between teeth and gums
• A bad or metallic taste

The sooner you are treated for gum disease, the easier and quicker the treatment will be.

Treating Gum Disease without Surgery

When caught early on, you can treat gum disease with non-surgical periodontal treatment in South Hadley, MA. These treatments include:

• Excellent oral hygiene and habits

If you have mild gum disease or gingivitis, excellent oral hygiene can help reverse the infection and restore the health of your gums. Good oral hygiene practices include:

• Brush gently twice daily, two minutes at a time. Use a soft brush and fluoride toothpaste.
• Floss daily
• Have routine dental checkups and cleanings
• Limiting your intake of sugary and alcoholic foods and beverages
• Eat a healthy diet
• Keep hydrated
• Treat dry mouth and other oral issues
• Avoid smoking
• Avoid hard, sticky, and crunchy foods
• Regular dental cleanings

Your dentist can also schedule routine professional cleanings to treat and reverse gum disease. The dentist uses a dental tool to remove bacterial plaque and tartar that has built up on the teeth and around the gum line, allowing your gums to heal and prevent further infections. If not eliminated, these deposits accumulate on and below the gum line, causing gum recession, bone loss, and other serious oral issues. Although dental experts recommend dental cleanings twice yearly, you may need cleanings more frequently if you have gum disease.

• Deep cleaning

A deep cleaning may be necessary if your infection has developed under the gum line. A deep cleaning, or periodontal scaling and root planing, helps remove bacterial infections from above and below the gum line.

The dentist uses a dental scaler to scrape plaque off of the teeth and above and below the gum line. It helps clean out deep gum pockets and aids the gums in reattaching to the teeth. The rough areas of the teeth are smoothened to enable the gums to heal and prevent a new build-up of bacteria.

• Medications

Along with other treatments, your dentist or periodontist can prescribe medication to assist in clearing up the infection and prevent bacteria from recolonizing. Some medicines for gum disease can include:

• Antibiotic and antimicrobial mouthwash, rinses, gels, and other products
• Antibiotics
• Tray system gum treatment

• Bite Adjustment

If you’ve suffered significant dental problems like loose or shifting teeth, the dentist can adjust your bite to protect your teeth from falling out. If you’ve lost teeth, the dentist can replace your teeth using dental bridges, dentures, or implants.

Are you interested in non-surgical gum disease treatment in South Hadley, MA?

Do you have gum disease? Contact South Hadley Dental Group to begin your treatment today.