Did you know that detecting gum disease in the early stages makes it the most effectively and economically treated? This is true for many oral health issues. As a periodontist, our team specializes in the areas of the mouth that surround and support your teeth – your gums, bone and connective tissues. These are the parts that attach your teeth to your smile! Our goal is to support your oral health by diagnosing and treating any issues you might have with those supportive structures of your teeth.

What Causes Periodontal Disease?

Since periodontal (gum) disease is a broad term describing a group of diseases resulting in loss of attachment of the gum, connecting tissues and bone to the teeth, you might be wondering, how does periodontal disease come about? It is typically caused by the bacterial oral biofilm that builds up around your teeth when you neglect your daily oral hygiene care (brushing and flossing) because of how your body’s immune system reacts to it.

Did you know that almost half of the adult US population has destructive periodontal disease? And that’s not all! Periodontal disease is also linked to other systemic diseases, including the following:

So how do you know if you have periodontal (gum) disease? You might need treatment if you find yourself with the following:

In the early-to-moderate stages of periodontal disease, the goal is to help you learn how to reclaim your oral health. It all begins in the home, where you need to make sure you brush and floss consistently every day so you can control the development of harmful daily biofilm (plaque). This daily routine will need to be combined with thorough professional teeth cleaning (called scaling and root planing, or root debridement). The further along periodontal disease advances could mean that you may even require occlusal (bite) treatment and/or surgical treatment.

Signs to look out for that will need treatment:

Since gum disease can leave you with tooth loss and even other systemic health issues, we urge you to schedule a visit with our periodontist if you have any lingering concerns about your gums. This new year is a great time to assess your oral health and address problems early for optimal success. Your smile deserves to be healthy and strong!