Gum Disease
Our team of dental professionals is committed to providing you with the highest quality care to ensure your dental health.
What is Gum Disease?
Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease or periodontitis, is a condition in which bacterial growth in your mouth causes your gums to pull away from your teeth, creating periodontal pockets that collect debris and become infected. The infection then damages the bone that supports your teeth.
The early stage of gum disease, called gingivitis, often appears as bad breath and swollen gums that bleed when you brush or floss. At this stage, there might be little to no discomfort and you may not even realize anything is wrong.
If ignored, gingivitis progresses into more dangerous stages of gum disease that require advanced care from a dentist. Fortunately, gingivitis can easily be controlled.
What is Gum Disease?
Mild gingivitis can typically be reversed with good oral hygiene and regular checkups with your dentist.
But if ignored, gum disease can cause widespread damage to your mouth, including jawbone deterioration and tooth loss.
If left untreated, gum disease can even lead to other serious health problems such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Therefore, seeking regular periodontal care is crucial for not only maintaining a healthy smile but also overall wellness.
If you’re in the Harrisonburg, VA, area, Smiles for Life Dental Care can provide you with treatment to improve the health of your gums.
Knowing the Symptoms of Periodontal Disease
You may not notice the symptoms of gum disease even as it progresses into the later stages. The signs can be subtle, and can occur in places that are hard for you to detect. This is why it’s so important to schedule regular checkups at a dental office. Though you may not notice any symptoms, they often include:
- Red, swollen, or receding gums
- Infected gums
- Gums that bleed when you brush or floss
- Persistent bad breath
- A bad taste in your mouth
- Loose teeth
- Tooth loss
- Misalignment
- Deep pockets between the gums and teeth
We Can Treat Your Gum Disease
Once plaque hardens into tartar and spreads below the gumline, your will need professional attention to remove it from your teeth. If you have developed periodontitis, our dentists can provide you with treatment.
We can also provide you with preventive care in the form of regular checkup. By testing, we look for hidden oral health concerns, genetic markers associated with periodontitis, and even oral cancer. These dental screenings allow our dentists to identify signs of gingivitis and other health concerns and control them before they become a bigger issue.
Treatment Options for Gum Disease
Are you struggling with gum disease? Don’t fret there are a variety of effective treatment options that can help restore your smile to its former glory!
Antibiotics
When taken during the earliest stages of periodontitis, antibiotics can sometimes be enough to resolve gum disease and restore your oral health. If necessary, an antibiotic can also be combined with other treatments performed by your hygienist. Antibiotics can either be taken in pill form or placed directly on the periodontal pockets as a gel.
Antibacterial Irrigation
During scaling and root planing we use an antibacterial rinse to flush out harmful bacteria in periodontal pockets. This is a very safe and effective way to remove bacteria and toxins from beneath your gumline. You may be given this antibacterial rinse in your Waterpik at home during your periodontal treatment.
Scaling and Root Planing
During a scaling and root planing procedure, your gums will be numbed with an anesthetic before your dentist uses a scaling device to gently remove plaque, tartar, and bacteria along the gumline and surface of the tooth. After scaling, the rough areas along the tooth roots are smoothed to prevent bacteria growth and to help loosened gums reattach to the teeth.
What Can Lead to Periodontal Disease?
Plaque buildup from poor oral hygiene habits is typically the cause of periodontal disease. However, other factors can contribute to the development of periodontal disease, including:
Hormonal Changes
Poor Home Care
Certain Medications
Certain Illnesses
Smoking or Chewing Tobacco
47.2%
of adults aged 30 years and older have some form of periodontal disease.
-According to the CDC
The Long-Term Dangers of Periodontal Disease
When bacteria builds up in periodontal pockets, it can make its way into your bloodstream and affect parts of your body other than your mouth. This can lead to dangerous long-term disorders. Aside from tooth and bone loss, you may experience:
Cardiovascular disease
Pneumonia
Diabetes
Rheumatoid arthritis
Alzheimer’s disease
Stroke
Rheumatoid arthritis
Prevent Gingivitis Before It Starts
With proper oral hygiene, You can prevent the development of gum disease when you practice a good oral hygiene routine. During the early stages of disease, gingivitis can usually be prevented from progressing into more serious cases of periodontitis. Simply minimizing plaque buildup can contribute to good overall oral health.
Brushing Twice per Day
Antibacterial Mouthwash
Flossing Once per Day
Limiting Sugar Intake
Scheduling Regular Dental Checkups
Avoiding Nicotine Products
Meet The Team
Staunton Location
Bridgewater Location
Our Smiles for Life Patients Know
Warren Wise
Just had my first visit with Dr. Whiting at Smiles for Life in Bridgewater. My welcome to the office was warm and inviting. The dental assistant was professional, proficient, and very gentle. Dr.Whiting is very good at explaining problems he saw with my teeth and outline options for addressing those problems.
Jennifer Harper
Cathy Batton is an amazing hygienist and is so gentle but very thorough. She is very kind, and I am always happy to see her when I go to the dentist! She makes going to the dentist more fun!
Sandy Miller
I love Cathy!! She does a great job and is always very personable and professional. Give her a raise!! 😊 Everyone at Smiles for Life is great! If you’re looking for a dentist, I would highly recommend them.
Adam Harper
As always, my dental hygienist was amazing! Kathy has always done a great job and she is so very pleasant! I enjoy talking with her and she is extremely gentle when it comes to cleaning my teeth! Thanks for everything Kathy!
Sergen Keles
I recently visited this place and was extremely impressed. The staff was friendly, the clinic clean, and the appointment was punctual. Dr. Dan Whiting provided professional, gentle care, and explained everything clearly. Highly recommend!
Regina Pierce
Cathy Batton has been my hygienist since I (Dean) started at this practice and she is absolutely the best! Very gentle and caring! This group has brought me a long way from where I started! Thank you Cathy! The ladies at the desk (Jodie, Tara) thank you for keeping me in check! All of the people at this practice are great!
Chimdindu Ojibe
I had the best experience here. Every one was so nice to me and I felt very comfortable throughout my appointment. The doctor and all the staff were very friendly. They even gave me a free scan which was so nice of them. If you’re looking for a new dentist I 100% recommend Smiles for Life.
Clinton Huntley
Great Dentist!!!! VERY Professional, Polite, and most of all more worried about my condition and understanding my circumstances and and my opinion on what I believe should be done… will definitely recommend him to everyone thank you once again for everything I greatly appreciate you and all your staff!!!
