Gum Disease

Preventing and Treating Gum Disease

Mentions of gum disease are everywhere in dental products and for good reason. Left untreated, gum disease can have long lasting and potentially serious effects. Luckily, many cases of gum disease are easy to treat, and with proper care in our Jacksonville office and at home, you can reverse and prevent further damage as well.

Gingivitis

The earliest stage of gum disease is called gingivitis. Caused by a buildup of bacteria-filled plaque along the gum line, the result is infected tissue that becomes swollen, red, and bleeds easily. The reason that gingivitis begins is often poor dental hygiene habits. If you aren’t properly brushing and flossing, then you aren’t removing all of the plaque in your mouth.

Gingivitis is easy to treat and can generally be reversed with a good dental cleaning. Our team of skilled dental hygienists will be able to thoroughly remove plaque and help teach you how to properly care for your teeth at home.

Periodontal Disease

When gingivitis is left untreated, it develops into full-blown periodontal disease (also called gum disease). At this stage, treatment becomes much more difficult. Long term effects of gum disease can include the recession of gums, tooth loss, and destruction of bone. While this sounds severe, gum disease is still treatable! Using a technique called root planing and scaling, we can do a deep clean in the areas between your gums and teeth. These periodontal pockets are where most of the disease-causing bacteria lives. By removing it and thoroughly cleaning the area, we are able to stop gum disease in its tracks!

Prevention

The best solution to preventing gum disease and gingivitis is to make sure your mouth stays clean. While brushing and flossing will help maintain your mouth’s health, the only way to assure that you are keeping your teeth in peak shape is by scheduling regular six-month cleanings.

The symptoms of gingivitis and periodontal disease can often be invisible. Don’t wait until it’s too late! Schedule a thorough exam for Gum Disease by calling our office at 501-982-4447, or schedule an appointment using our online form.