Think you could be dealing with periodontal disease? Know the signs.
How often do you pay attention to the health of your gums? Many people will deal with gum disease at some point during their lifetime, and it’s important to recognize the symptoms. If caught early enough, our Rancho Cucamonga, CA, dentists Dr. Peter Yanes and Dr. Rossina Escobar-Yanes can also help you reverse early gum disease with simple periodontal treatment and lifestyle options.
Early Signs of Gum Disease
Gum disease, especially during its early stages (known as gingivitis), may not cause any issues. So while you may not be able to detect those early signs of gum disease we certainly can. When you come into our dental practice twice a year for your routine checkups, we will measure the pockets between the gums and the teeth to look for gum disease.
However, sometimes gingivitis does cause issues. Early warning signs of gum disease include red, inflamed, and swollen gums. You may also notice that your gums bleed easily, especially when brushing, flossing, or even eating. If you notice any of these issues you should turn to our Rancho Cucamonga, CA, dentists for periodontal gum disease treatment.
The Symptoms of Advanced Gum Disease
So, what happens if you don’t treat gum disease right away? Whether you ignore symptoms or you aren’t experiencing symptoms (and don’t visit us for routine dental checkups every six months) if gum disease is allowed to progress it can cause some serious issues for the health and appearance of your gums. You may notice chronic bad breath, receding gums, and loose teeth. If gum disease becomes more advanced, it will eventually lead to tooth loss and bone damage. This is why it’s important to catch gum disease early.
Treating Gum Disease
How our dental team decides to treat gum disease will depend on how advanced it is. Gingivitis or early stages of gum disease can often be treated with the proper at-home oral care. Our dental team may prescribe a special medicated rinse to use or special brushing or flossing products. Along with proper oral care our dental team may recommend scaling and root planing.
Scaling and root planing is a professional deep cleaning designed to remove bacteria from under the gums and around the roots of the teeth to improve the health, firmness, and appearance of the gums. This deep cleaning may be performed only twice a year or maybe performed quarterly, depending on how much plaque builds up during this time. Advanced periodontal disease may require more aggressive treatment such as flap surgery or bone or tissue grafting surgery.
If you are dealing with symptoms of gum disease, our Rancho Cucamonga, CA, dentists can offer you the periodontal treatment you need. Call us at (909) 466-4495 to schedule an evaluation with our team today.