Understanding Your Options for Gum Inflammation Treatment

Gum disease is more common than people think, particularly among adults. In its early stage of gingivitis, gum disease may have very mild symptoms like swollen gums or occasional bleeding when brushing or flossing. Over time, your condition can worsen, putting your oral health at risk. At Granite Bay Dentistry, serving residents in Folsom, Roseville, Loomis, Lincoln, Rocklin, and Granite Bay, California, we recommend getting gum inflammation treatment at the first sign of gingivitis to preserve the health of your gums and teeth. Here’s what you should know about gum disease causes and treatment.

Gum Disease Causes and Stages

Gum disease is an infection caused by plaque and tartar build-up on your gums and teeth due to poor oral hygiene. Bleeding gums, tooth sensitivity, and gum inflammation are common gum disease symptoms. Early gum disease is called gingivitis, the first stage of the infection. As the disease progresses, it becomes periodontitis, a more advanced stage characterized by pockets of bacteria developing around your teeth, receding gums, and painful chewing. In its advanced stage, periodontal disease can destroy the supporting tissues of your teeth, resulting in loose teeth and tooth loss.

Options for Gum Inflammation Treatment

Although there’s no cure for periodontal disease, there are treatments that can help reduce swollen gums and manage other symptoms to help preserve your smile. Depending on the stage and severity of your condition, Dr. Colby Smith can address gum disease through: 

• Regular dental cleaning – Dental cleanings coupled with improved oral hygiene at home can help reverse the symptoms of gingivitis. Routine cleaning rids your teeth of plaque and tartar around the gumline to eliminate harmful bacteria and curtail the infection. Good oral home care and semi-annual dental cleanings can help prevent gum disease
• Deep cleaning – For more advanced cases of gum disease, Dr. Smith may recommend deep cleaning, i.e., scaling and root planing of your teeth. Scaling involves scraping away plaque and tartar below the gum line, where bacteria can accumulate and breed. Root planing smooths out rough spots on your tooth root to keep bacteria from accumulating again. These procedures are done under anesthesia, so you feel no discomfort or pain
• Antibiotics – Antibiotics can be used alone or in combination with other treatments to cleanse your mouth of harmful bacteria
• Gum grafting – If your gums have receded, gum grafting can help reinforce your gums so they will support your teeth. Dr. Smith will take tissue from the palate of your mouth and graft it to areas where you’ve lost gum tissue, or the tissue is thin
• Flap surgery entails making an incision in your gums and lifting them back to remove pockets of bacteria around your teeth. Your gums are then smoothed back and stitched in place to give them a chance to reattach to your teeth and heal

Treating gum disease sooner rather than later is essential to protecting and preserving your smile. 

To schedule a consultation for gum disease treatment, contact Granite Bay Dentistry in Granite Bay, CA, at (916) 735-4720.