Gum Disease Treatment in Mauston

What Is Gum Disease?

Gum disease is inflammation or infection which affects your gum tissue. Untreated, it may spread to other parts of your mouth, like the ligaments and your jawbone, which support your teeth. Gum disease is largely preventable by practicing good oral hygiene, yet it is extremely common. The Centers for Disease Control estimate about 48 percent of adults in the United States have gum disease. The statistic is alarming, especially since the disease is the primary reason adults over age 30 lose teeth.

How Does Gingivitis Start?

Gingivitis starts when you don't practice good oral hygiene at home. Normally, methodical brushing and flossing removes plaque, but if you allow it to remain on your teeth, it will harden into tarter. People who don't brush their teeth well and don't have regular dental cleanings, usually have plaque buildup at the gumline and between their teeth, which are areas that are more difficult to clean. Plaque and tartar will cause gum inflammation, which is gingivitis.

What Are the First Signs of Gingivitis?

Gingivitis is the earliest stage of gum disease, so your gingivitis symptoms may be barely noticeable. You won't feel any pain, however, you may notice:

• Puffy gums
• Gums which bleed slightly when you brush
• Tender gums
• Dark red gums

If you notice any signs of gingivitis, please call us today for an appointment. Our dentists offer gingivitis treatment so your gum disease won't advance to a more serious form of gum disease.

What Are the Signs of Periodontitis or Advanced Periodontitis?

More advanced gum disease symptoms will include:

• Your teeth appear longer as your gums shrink
• You have a foul taste in your mouth
• Sensitive teeth as the roots become exposed
• Your bite changes
• Your teeth become loose.

If you notice any of these signs of gum disease, please contact our dental practice right away. We offer effective gum disease treatment to help prevent further damage to your teeth.

What Are the Stages of Periodontal Disease?

Gum disease has three stages, which include:

Gingivitis

Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gingiva, or gums. Fortunately, there is a gingivitis cure , so if you get treatment, the disease won't progress further. Gingivitis does not always progress to periodontitis, but everyone with periodontitis had gingivitis first. If they sought effective gingivitis treatment at the first signs of gingivitis, they would not have developed periodontitis.

Periodontitis

With periodontitis, the infection spreads to under your gumline. You develop periodontal packets which are full of bacteria. Without treatment, the pockets allow bacteria to reach under your gums and attach to the teeth's support structures. You'll notice a foul odor coming from the pockets. Treatment to manage the disease is vital.

Advanced Periodontitis

This is the most destructive stage of periodontal disease. You're likely to have tooth and bone loss.

Where Can I Find a Gingivitis Cure?

Your local dentist's office is the best place to find an effective gingivitis cure. Our dentists examine patients to look for gingivitis symptoms and then develop a treatment plan to stop it, before it can turn into periodontitis. Typically, gingivitis treatment starts with a professional teeth cleaning to remove all traces of plaque and tartar. Next, your dentist will recommend an at-home brushing and flossing routine that will keep plaque from building up in your mouth. He or she may also suggest you use an anti-plaque mouthwash. Contact us today for an appointment if you notice any gingivitis symptoms.

What Is the Treatment for Advanced Gum Disease?

Our dentist who treats gum disease in Mauston will start with a deep dental cleaning. He or she will go beyond a regular dental cleaning that treats gingivitis. The cleaning removes plaque from the pockets that form between your teeth and gums and smooths the root surface to discourage plaque from sticking to them. Your dentist will also most likely prescribe an antibiotic regimen.

If a deep cleaning does not help the gums reattach to the teeth, or too much damage has already been done, your dentist may refer you for gum flap surgery or a gum graft to replace missing tissue. At this point, there is no gum disease cure, but your dentist can control the infection and manage the disease to help you avoid pain and potential tooth loss.

Where Can I Find Help Reversing Gum Disease?

Our dentists who treat gum disease in Mauston are a good place to start. If you have gingivitis, they excel at reversing gum disease. While there is a gingivitis cure, there isn't a way to reverse more advanced forms of gum disease. Our dentists can treat the infection to stop it from spreading and causing more damage to the support structures for your teeth. Please contact our practice to schedule an appointment if you notice any gum disease symptoms.