Many times there is no pain involved with gum disease.
There can be several indications that something may be wrong with your gums. Maybe they bleed when you brush. Or perhaps they’re slightly red or puffy. Another sign could be persistent bad breath, or you may notice your gums receding from your teeth.
Since gum disease can build over time, it can be easy to overlook these signs.
If you have any of these concerns, Dabuleanu Dental offers periodontal treatment for patients dealing with gum inflammation, periodontal disease and bone loss caused by periodontal disease. By detecting periodontal disease early, there may be more treatment options available.
What Is Gum Disease?
Periodontal disease occurs when the tissues around your teeth become inflamed and infected.
Most commonly, it begins with the buildup of plaque.
Plaque contains bacteria. If it is not properly removed from around the gumline and between your teeth, it can eventually harden into tartar or calculus. Once tartar forms, it cannot be removed with regular brushing alone.
The Canadian Dental Association explains that gum disease begins when plaque builds up around the teeth and below the gumline. The earliest stage is known as gingivitis.
What Is Gingivitis?
Gingivitis is the first stage of periodontal disease.
Your gums may appear red, swollen or bleed when brushing or flossing.
At this stage, you have not experienced the same type of supporting bone loss associated with periodontitis.
If gingivitis is caught early, improving your oral hygiene and receiving professional dental care can often help return the gums to a healthier condition.
Do not assume bleeding gums are normal simply because they have been bleeding for a long time.
What Is Periodontitis?
Gum disease can advance from gingivitis to periodontitis.
Periodontitis affects not only the gums but also the bone and other tissues that support your teeth.
Pockets may begin to form between your teeth and gums. Plaque and bacteria can collect in these areas and become increasingly difficult to clean at home.
As the condition progresses, supporting bone may be lost.
At Dabuleanu Dental, periodontitis is treated as a condition affecting the gums and supporting bone that can eventually contribute to tooth loss if it is not properly managed.
What Are the Symptoms of Gum Disease?
There are many signs that you may have gum disease.
Some people notice obvious changes. Others barely notice anything.
Symptoms can include:
- Gums that bleed when brushing or flossing
- Red or swollen gums
- Tender gums
- Persistent bad breath
- Gums pulling away from the teeth
- Teeth appearing longer
- Exposed roots that may be sensitive
- Pus or drainage around the gums
- Changes in the way your teeth fit together
- Teeth that feel loose
- Spaces developing between teeth
One thing to keep in mind is that periodontal disease may not cause pain.
That is one reason regular dental and periodontal examinations are important.
Is It Normal to Have Bleeding Gums?
Not always.
You may notice some bleeding if you have recently started flossing more regularly or changed your brushing habits.
However, if your gums bleed frequently when you brush or floss, they should be checked.
This may be a sign that plaque is building up and causing inflammation.
Try to keep brushing and cleaning between your teeth rather than avoiding the area altogether. You may also need professional treatment to remove buildup that you cannot clean at home.
Why Are My Gums Swollen?
There can be many reasons your gums become swollen.
One reason is gingivitis caused by plaque buildup.
Another possibility is swelling around one particular tooth. There may be an infection or periodontal pocket underneath the gumline. Food can also occasionally become trapped in the area and cause irritation.
If swelling is isolated to one area, painful or accompanied by drainage, a bad taste or fever, have it checked.
Dabuleanu Dental also provides periodontal care for gum infections and other conditions affecting the gums.
What Causes Gum Disease?
Bacteria that build up as plaque on the teeth are the primary cause of periodontal disease.
Other factors can also affect your risk.
These may include:
- Not brushing or cleaning between your teeth effectively
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- Family history
- Certain medications
- Hormonal changes
- Dry mouth
- Previous periodontal disease
- Difficulty keeping particular areas clean
Having one of these risk factors does not mean you will definitely develop gum disease.
It may mean that your dental professional wants to monitor your periodontal health more closely.
Can Gum Disease Cause Bad Breath?
Yes, gum disease can sometimes contribute to bad breath.
Bacteria and plaque around the teeth and gums can produce unpleasant odours.
Of course, there are many other possible causes of bad breath as well.
If you have persistent bad breath despite brushing, cleaning between your teeth and cleaning your tongue, a dental examination may help determine the cause.
Why Do My Teeth Appear Longer?
Your teeth may not actually be getting longer.
Your gums may be receding.
As gum tissue moves away from the tooth, more of the tooth and root surface becomes visible, which can make the tooth look longer.
There are many possible reasons for gum recession, including gum disease, aggressive brushing, tooth position and naturally thin gum tissue.
Depending on the cause, treatment may involve managing periodontal disease, changing brushing habits or, in some cases, considering gum grafting.
Dabuleanu Dental offers gum grafting and other periodontal services when appropriate.
Can Gum Disease Make Your Teeth Loose?
Yes.
If periodontal disease causes enough bone loss around a tooth, that tooth can become loose.
This generally occurs when the disease has become more advanced.
Loose permanent teeth should not be ignored.
Treating periodontal disease may help control further progression, although the amount of remaining bone and support around the tooth will affect the treatment options available.
How Is Gum Disease Diagnosed?
When examining your mouth for gum disease, your dental professional may look at:
- Colour and inflammation of your gums
- Bleeding
- Amount of plaque and calculus
- Gum recession
- Mobility of your teeth
- Periodontal pockets around your teeth
- Bone levels on dental X-rays
- Areas that are difficult to keep clean
A periodontal probe may also be used to measure the spaces around your teeth.
These measurements can help determine whether periodontal pockets have developed and how much support remains around each tooth.
Can Gum Disease Be Reversed?
That depends on the stage.
Gingivitis can often improve when plaque and calculus are removed and good oral hygiene is maintained.
Once periodontal disease has caused loss of supporting bone, that damage is more complicated.
Treatment can still help control the disease and reduce the risk of further progression.
That is why detecting periodontal disease as early as possible is important.
How Is Gum Disease Treated?
There are several ways to treat gum disease.
Not everyone with gum disease needs surgery.
Some patients may only require professional cleaning and improvements to their daily oral hygiene. Others may need treatment below the gumline or more advanced periodontal care.
Treatment options can include:
- Professional cleaning
- Scaling and root planing
- Periodontal maintenance
- Treatment of localized gum infections
- Periodontal surgery
- Regenerative procedures in selected cases
- Gum grafting
Your periodontal needs will be evaluated and a treatment plan can then be recommended.
What Is Scaling and Root Planing?
Scaling and root planing is a common treatment for periodontal disease.
It involves cleaning below the gumline to remove plaque and calculus from the root surfaces.
This can help reduce bacteria and inflammation around the teeth.
Scaling and root planing is a non-surgical approach used to clean periodontal pockets and improve the environment around the gums.
Does Deep Cleaning Hurt?
This is a question many patients ask when scaling and root planing is recommended.
It depends on which areas need to be cleaned and how deep the periodontal pockets are.
Local anesthetic may be used when needed so the area can be treated more comfortably.
Some tenderness or sensitivity may occur afterward.
Your dental team can explain what to expect once the amount of treatment required has been determined.
What Is Periodontal Maintenance?
Just because you have completed treatment for periodontal disease does not mean ongoing care is finished.
You may need periodontal maintenance to help keep the condition under control.
These appointments may be recommended more frequently than routine preventive cleanings, depending on your periodontal history and current condition.
The appropriate interval is different for each patient.
During these visits, problem areas can be monitored and cleaned as needed.
This can help reduce the risk of periodontal disease becoming active again.
When Might You Need Gum Surgery?
You do not always need surgery to treat gum disease.
There are cases where periodontal surgery may be considered, particularly when periodontal pockets remain deep or certain areas cannot be adequately treated with non-surgical care.
Some procedures may also be used when damaged supporting tissues could benefit from regenerative treatment.
It depends on the individual case.
A periodontist can evaluate your condition and determine whether any additional procedures are appropriate.
What Does a Periodontist Do?
A periodontist is a dentist who has completed advanced specialty training focused on the gums, supporting bone and dental implants.
Periodontists can treat conditions involving:
- Gingivitis and periodontitis
- Bone loss
- Gum recession
- Periodontal abscesses
- Advanced periodontal disease
- Gum grafting
- Bone regeneration
- Dental implants
- Problems affecting the tissues around dental implants
Dabuleanu Dental provides specialty periodontal services in North York.
Can Gum Disease Return?
Yes.
Periodontal disease can become active again if plaque and bacteria begin to accumulate around the teeth.
That does not necessarily mean previous treatment was unsuccessful.
It means ongoing periodontal maintenance and home care remain important.
If you have had periodontal disease in the past, your dental team may recommend closer monitoring.
How Can You Help Prevent Gum Disease?
Although some risk factors cannot be changed, there are things you can do to help reduce your risk of gum disease.
Brush Your Teeth
Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
Pay attention to the area where your teeth meet the gums.
You do not need to scrub aggressively. Thorough, gentle brushing is more important.
Clean Between Your Teeth
You cannot completely clean between your teeth with a toothbrush alone.
Use floss, interdental brushes or another cleaning method recommended by your dental professional.
Don’t Ignore Bleeding Gums
If your gums bleed regularly, have them checked.
It is generally easier to manage gingivitis and early periodontal problems than advanced disease that has already caused bone loss.
Stop Smoking
Smoking can increase your risk of periodontal disease and may also affect healing.
Let your dental team know if you smoke.
Take Care of Your Overall Health
Your overall health can play a role in your periodontal health.
Make sure your dentist knows your medical history and any medications you are taking.
Visit Your Dentist Regularly
Regular dental examinations and professional cleanings can help remove buildup and identify changes in your gums before they become more advanced.
There is no single schedule that is right for everyone.
Your dentist or periodontist can recommend how often you should be seen based on your individual needs.
What Should I Do if I Think I Have Gum Disease?
Come in for an examination.
There can be many reasons for bleeding gums, recession, swelling or persistent bad breath.
An examination can help determine what is happening and whether treatment is needed.
Don’t wait until it hurts.
Periodontal disease does not always cause pain, even when it has progressed.
Gum Disease Treatment in North York
Healthy gums are an important part of keeping your natural teeth.
If you notice bleeding, swelling, gum recession, loose teeth or another change in your gums, having the area examined can help determine whether periodontal disease is present.
Dabuleanu Dental provides periodontal care in North York for patients with gingivitis, periodontitis, gum recession and other conditions affecting the gums and supporting bone.
Contact Dabuleanu Dental to arrange an assessment.
Dabuleanu Dental
2 Finch Ave W
North York, ON M2N 6L1
416-222-5055
FAQs About Gum Disease
What Are the Signs of Gum Disease?
You may notice red or swollen gums, bleeding when brushing or flossing, gum recession or persistent bad breath.
Some patients have very few noticeable symptoms.
Can Gingivitis Be Reversed?
Gingivitis can often improve with proper plaque removal, professional dental care and consistent home oral hygiene before deeper periodontal damage has occurred.
Does Gum Disease Hurt?
Not always.
That is one reason regular dental examinations are important.
Why Do My Gums Bleed When I Brush?
Plaque buildup and gum inflammation are common causes.
If your gums bleed regularly, have them checked rather than assuming it is normal.
Can Gum Disease Cause Tooth Loss?
Yes.
Advanced periodontal disease can result in loss of the bone and tissues supporting the teeth. If enough support is lost, teeth may become loose and can eventually be lost.
How Do You Treat Gum Disease?
Treatment depends on how advanced the condition is.
Options can range from professional cleaning and scaling and root planing to periodontal maintenance and, in some cases, periodontal surgery.
How Can I Prevent Gum Disease?
Brush thoroughly, clean between your teeth every day and maintain regular professional dental care.
Addressing risk factors such as smoking can also help.