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
LaDawn Knicely
Cathy is always amazing. She remembers personal care details about my visit each time which shows me that she is a great listener, she has heard me and follows through with such care.
Cathy Ryan
I had Dr. Whiting for the first time and the practice will be in excellent hands when Dr. McIntire retires in Sept. He was profesional yet had an engaging demeanor when interacting with me. What makes this practice exceptional is the support staff- the welcoming friendliness of the front desk and the business office personnel. In particular, I would like to give high praises to the dental technician, Faith. She is warm, engaging and puts you at ease. She educates you during the whole process and is extremely knowledgeable about the procedures. Without a doubt, this is the best dental practice in the Valley.
Howard Dean
Dr. Whiting and staff did an excellent job. They were respectful, professional, and very helpful during the process of getting some dental implants. They expedited my appointments to get my new teeth before Father’s Day. Very happy with the results!
Susan Hairston
Dr. Mac performed a small miracle for me yesterday during my appointment. I was having an issue with my temporary bridge and he squeezed me in with his other patients to fix it. He went to great lengths to help me and I am very grateful. Thank you SFL!!
Dottie Westhafer
I had every intention of shopping around before committing to the extensive dental work I needed. However, after visiting the practice and seeing how dedicated they were to making life changing improvement for their patients, I looked no further. It is a process, starting with evaluations, recommendations, x-rays and scheduling. Beginning with my first appointment I marveled at the kindness, care and professionalism I received. I was taken care of skillfully and gently as we began my transformation. Today, June 6, 2024, I left their office with a beautiful smile without discoloration, wear, and misaligned teeth, and I now have a corrected bite and completely restored teeth that I am proud to show. Dr. Geo is very caring and meticulous, striving to complete his work with skill and perfection. I’m so glad that I came to Smiles For Life.
Charles Kimbrough
Smiles for Life has taken care of my dentistry needs for the last 6 years or so. Other offices in the past have had difficult times fitting me in when I needed an appointment. That hasn’t been the case here. Today, I needed to reschedule my appointment for next Monday, and they had an opening today with Cathy Batton instead of my regular hygienist. Cathy does a great job with years of experience and has a way about her to make you feel comfortable.
Linda Clague
Alex, . Morgan, and Dr Geo are very personable and professional. I felt very relaxed the entire visit.I especially appreciated Dr. Geo's careful mouth and teeth exam. They explained everything step by step and allowed time for questions.
Mclatt
On my first visit I meet Becky, we sat down and talked about everything they do there and she allowed me to tell her about my issues with my teeth and she felt that they could help me with my problem. This is the first time I have ever been able to explain, in detail, about my past and present experiences with my dental problems. She made me feel very comfortable in taking about my care and what I would like to have done with my denture issue's. I have set up my next appointment to have x-rays done and feel very good about that! I'm looking forward to my visit and what they have to say about fixing my problem .
