Fortunately, if you receive gum disease treatment when symptoms first appear, you have a very good chance of reversing the condition completely. On the other hand, if you ignore the initial symptoms and don’t get treatment, your disease could progress and become irreversible.
Can my gum disease be resolved without invasive treatment?
Gum disease is an infection that is unlikely to resolve without improved care. However, depending on the severity of your gum disease, Las Vegas dentist Dr. James B. Polley might be able to resolve your gum disease without invasive treatments. If you do have serious gum disease, it is important to resolve it as quickly as you can.
What happens if you don’t treat gingivitis?
Left untreated, gingivitis will progress to periodontitis, which can range from moderate to severe. While gingivitis causes unpleasant symptoms, most of those symptoms are reversible. Periodontitis causes irreversible damage to your teeth and supporting structures. This is one reason why this level of gum disease should be taken very seriously.
What happens to your teeth when you have gum disease?
“ [When] bone starts to break down, the gums start separating from the tooth, creating a pocket,” Sahl says. This pulling away is called receding gums. Sensitive teeth: If a sip of a cold drink makes you wince, your teeth may be telling you something. That’s a symptom of gum disease that often goes hand in hand with shrinking gums.
What are the treatments for gum disease?
Fortunately, gingivitis is the easiest form of gum disease to treat. By taking proactive steps to improve oral hygiene habits and visiting your dentist twice a year for cleanings, most patients can reduce or eliminate the undesirable symptoms of gum disease.
How long do you have to treat gum disease?
Patients who comply with their dentist's recommendations will often see their condition reduce dramatically within two or three weeks. More serious stages of gingivitis may take longer to see results.
How long does it take gum disease to get worse?
During the early gingivitis stages, gum inflammation can occur in as little as five days. Within two to three weeks, the signs of generalized gingivitis become more noticeable. If you still leave this untreated, it would progress to slight periodontal disease.
Does gum disease last forever?
Periodontitis can last forever if you never see a dentist to have it treated. Likewise, as long as periodontitis is left untreated, the disease will progress and worsen. If you have the symptoms of periodontitis, it is recommended that you see a dentist as soon as possible.
Can gum disease fix itself?
The simple answer is, no. If your gums are damaged by, for example periodontitis, the most severe form of gum disease, it's not possible for receding gums to grow back. However, even though receding gums can't be reversed there are treatments that can help to stop the problem from getting worse.
What is Stage 4 periodontal disease?
In stage four the periodontal disease has taken a firm hold. Your gums will be visibly receding, exposing tender tooth enamel which can be easily damaged and then start to decay. The hidden damage to your jawbone will start to become noticeable as your teeth start to loosen, becoming wobbly or even moving position.
Can you live with periodontal disease?
Living with periodontal disease can cause aesthetic complications and bone loss of a serious nature. Unlike other injuries, periodontal disease does not cause any pain. It is a silent disease when the teeth gum becomes inflamed and bleeds.
Can gum disease disappear?
It's nearly impossible to eliminate all the bacteria at once, and all those deep pockets can still collect more plaque. You need to stay on a routine of regular maintenance to keep gum disease under control.
Can gum disease make you sick?
If the gums and areas between teeth are not cleaned properly, gum disease can begin. Here are some examples of how tooth problems such as decaying, cracked or missing teeth and gum problems can affect your health and make you sick.
Does gum disease go away if all teeth are removed?
Tooth extraction in the case of periodontal disease is usually done as a last resort. It is to be noted, however, that the extraction of teeth alone does not cure gum disease.
Can damaged gums grow back?
While your gums won't grow back on their own, surgical treatment can be used to replace the missing tissue, and restore both your appearance and your oral health.
Is gum infection serious?
Periodontitis is a severe gum infection that can lead to tooth loss and other serious health complications. Periodontitis (per-e-o-don-TIE-tis), also called gum disease, is a serious gum infection that damages the soft tissue and, without treatment, can destroy the bone that supports your teeth.
How can I rebuild my gums?
Brush and floss twice a day to keep gum recession and other dental health problems away.Oil Pulling. Oil pulling is a great way to naturally reduce plaque and prevent gingivitis. ... Eucalyptus Oil. ... Saltwater Rinse. ... Aloe Vera. ... Peppermint Essential Oil. ... Septilin. ... Turmeric Gel. ... Hydrogen Peroxide.More items...•
How do I know if my gum disease is getting worse?
One of the earliest signs of gingivitis is gums that appear red and puffy, as well as gums that bleed easily when brushing and flossing. Good oral hygiene can help to correct this issue, but if your gums continue to experience these symptoms – or they seem more severe – your gingivitis may be progressing.
Does gum disease get worse before it gets better?
Gingivitis can be reversed and gum disease can be kept from getting worse in nearly all cases when proper plaque control is practiced. Proper plaque control consists of professional cleanings at least twice a year and daily brushing and flossing. Brush your teeth twice a day.
How do you know if you have advanced gum disease?
Signs and symptoms of periodontitis can include: Swollen or puffy gums. Bright red, dusky red or purplish gums. Gums that feel tender when touched.
Why is my gum disease getting worse?
You have a higher risk of gum disease if you neglect your oral health by not brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing daily. You may also have a higher risk of gum disease if you don't see our dentists every six months for a routine teeth cleaning and oral examination.
Does gum disease cause heart disease?
Gum disease also affects the blood pressure of patients with hypertension and may impact the effect of medications. Also, gum disease is known to increase the risk of getting a heart attack by 49%.
Can bacteria survive on sugar?
When a person’s level of glucose is high, bacteria can thrive and make the germs attack the gums and teeth . This leads to gingivitis. Gum disease can also contribute to increased blood sugar in the body, causing you to be more at risk for Type 2 diabetes.
Is gum disease related to Alzheimer's?
Sadly, gum disease is also related to heightening the patient’s risk of having Alzheimer’s disease. The bacteria known as Porphyromonas gingivalis (P.gingivalis) can be present in gum disease and is also observed in patients with Alzheimer’s.
Why doesn't gum disease go away?
What’s most important to understand about why gum disease doesn’t go away on its own is knowing that it’s (usually) a bacterial infection. Your body can’t develop antibodies to stop it the way they do a virus. In other words, it’s not like a cold, or even the flu. It’s more like strep throat or pneumonia. Yes, there is a chance that it will get better, but most likely it will get worse and never really resolve without proper care.
What is the best treatment for periodontitis?
Scaling and root planing is the first treatment we will recommend for periodontitis. This is essentially a more advanced form of professional cleaning, where we remove tartar from your teeth, including below the gum line.
What are the two types of gum disease?
Types of Gum Disease. In general, we divide gum disease into two types, depending on how severe it is. Gingivitis is the mild form of gum disease. It’s characterized by swollen, and may bleed or hurt when you brush. Periodontitis is the more serious form of gum disease. At this point, your gums might bleed spontaneously, ...
Can periodontal disease cause receding gums?
Periodontitis can destroy your gum tissue, leading to receding gums. This exposes your tooth roots, which makes your teeth sensitive and can put you at increased risk for root cavities, which are harder to treat than cavities in your tooth crowns.
What is the earliest stage of gum disease?
Even mild gum disease symptoms are unattractive. The earliest stage of gum disease is known as gingivitis. The presence of plaque triggers our body’s immune response, which leads to inflammation of the soft tissue and, eventually, damage to the gums.
Is gingivitis a progressive disease?
Periodontitis is a progressive disease. Left untreated, gingivitis will progress to periodontitis, which can range from moderate to severe. While gingivitis causes unpleasant symptoms, most of those symptoms are reversible. Periodontitis causes irreversible damage to your teeth and supporting structures. This is one reason why this level of gum disease should be taken very seriously. Periodontitis is a leading cause of tooth loss.
Early Signs and Symptoms of Gum Disease
Noticing the signs and symptoms of gum disease earlier enough can help you to seek immediate treatment as necessary. Signs and symptoms of gum disease include:
What is Periodontal Disease?
This is because when the periodontal disease has been alleviated, the bone loss it caused also stops. However, the damage the disease caused to the jawbones cannot be repaired. Patients whose periodontal disease has been alleviated will notice a marked improvement in the redness, bleeding, swelling, and receding of their gums.
How Gingivitis Differs From Periodontitis?
Gum disease is caused by a bacterial infection that triggers the immune response of the body. Patients suffering from gingivitis will experience redness, swelling, and bleeding of the gingiva due to response from the body’s immune system. However, gingivitis does not involve bone loss, gum receding, or the development of pockets in the gum.
How to Cure Gum Disease?
One of the most effective periodontal care treatments for gum disease is deep cleaning. Deep cleaning involves scraping plaque off from below the gum line to eliminate the bacterial infection from the area. Your dentist office near me may suggest frequent deep cleanings to ensure that the gum disease does not return.
What happens if you don't treat gingivitis?
If you don’t treat it, the infection can travel below your gum line and into your bone. Then it becomes a more serious form of gum disease called periodontitis. Both gingivitis and periodontitis have been shown to raise your risk of things like diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis, pneumonia, and cancer. Early detection is your best bet.
What is the first line of treatment for gum disease?
Deep cleaning: The first line of treatment for gum disease is a careful, in-depth cleaning. Unlike a regular cleaning, which is usually only done above the gum line, deep cleaning goes under the gum line.
Why are my gums so sensitive?
That’s a symptom of gum disease that often goes hand in hand with shrinking gums. “With receding gums, the sensitive part of the tooth is exposed -- called the dentin -- causing sensitive teeth when exposed to cold water and air,” Sahl says.
What to do if you can't take care of your teeth?
Your dentist may recommend: Gum graft surgery: A surgeon takes tissue from another part of your mouth (like your palate) and covers any exposed tooth roots to prevent bone loss or decay and help sensitive teeth.
What to take after deep cleaning to help with infection?
Antibiotic gel: You spread this on gum pockets after a deep cleaning to help control infection. Enzyme suppressant: You take this tablet after a deep cleaning to block certain enzymes in your mouth from breaking down gum tissue. Oral antibiotics: For more serious infections, you can swallow these capsules or tablets.
What is the best way to get rid of bacteria in gums?
Antiseptic chip or antibiotic microspheres: You insert these tiny gels or particles into pockets in your gum, and they release medication slowly over time to help reduce the size of the pocket and get rid of bacteria. Antibiotic gel: You spread this on gum pockets after a deep cleaning to help control infection.
Can gum disease be treated with a magic pill?
Both methods may take more than one visit to the dentist. Medication: There’s no magic pill or cream that can cure gum disease, Sahl says.
