What is Gum Disease?
When the gums become infected, it’s known as periodontitis. Most cases of gum disease are a result of neglectful oral hygiene. If you don’t floss and brush away sticky plaque, it can start to build up along the gum line which can cause the gums to become infected. Usually, when you visit us twice a year for a dental cleaning, we remove the plaque and tartar from your teeth and underneath the gum line to prevent gum disease from forming. When you skip these appointments, your chances increases.
Once gum disease forms, the gums will start pulling away from the surface of the teeth. The natural tooth support and bone will also begin to disappear. At this point, the teeth can become loose and they can shift in the mouth. Without treatment, toothless will likely happen.
Symptoms of Gum Disease
Recognizing the symptoms is one of the easiest ways to prevent it from turning into full-blown advanced periodontitis. Watch out for these symptoms of gum disease.
- Swollen, red or tender gums
- Bleeding when flossing, brushing or eating hard food
- Separating or loose teeth
- Receding gums
- Pus between teeth and gums
- Bad breath
- Change in bite
- Sores in mouth
- Change in partial denture fit
If you notice any of these symptoms, seek treatment as soon as possible to prevent it from getting worse. Dr. Escoto and Dr. Mantovani can provide you with gum disease treatment in Miami Beach.
Periodontitis Risk Factors
Some people are at a higher risk of developing gum disease due to certain risk factors in their life. Knowing your risk factors can help you keep a closer eye on your gums. Some of the risk factors of periodontitis include the following.
- Tobacco/smoking
- Dry mouth
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Genetics
- Clenching/grinding teeth
- Poor nutrition habits
- Hormonal changes
- Stress
- Certain medications
- Systemic diseases
Gum Disease Treatment
Before we can begin treating, we must first give you an examination where we measure the pockets between your teeth and gums. Once we determine the extent, we can recommend the best treatment for you. When caught early on, treatment is simple. However, if left untreated, it can involve surgery.
The first step to any gum disease treatment is a dental cleaning. Dental cleanings are important to your oral health because they help us remove plaque and tartar from the teeth and underneath the gum line. If the plaque and tartar become trapped underneath the gums, we will need to give you a scaling and root planing procedure (deep cleaning). Deep cleaning involves scraping the plaque from beneath the gum line and pushing the gums back over the teeth where they belong. We might also include antibiotics to remove the infection if the infection is severe enough.
In the most advanced cases, Dr. Mantovani or Dr. Escoto will need to perform a gum graft to help the gums cover the teeth once again. The gum graft involves taking tissue from the roof of the mouth and then grafting that over the receding gum line to help the tissue regenerate. Some patients will also require a bone graft if the gum disease has also depleted the jaw bone.
Get Treatment in Miami Beach
Do you have signs of gum disease? Don’t let it go untreated. Dr. Mantovani and Dr. Escoto can help you prevent tooth loss in Miami Beach. Please call us at (305) 535-2225 to book an appointment today.