Gum Disease Specialist

What is gum disease?

Gum disease refers to infection or inflammation of the connective tissue that holds your teeth in place. There are several common signs and symptoms of gum disease, including:

• Bleeding gums
• Dark red gums
• Receding gums
• Painful or tender gums
• Painful chewing

Since gum disease and poor oral hygiene are linked to serious health conditions such as heart disease and stroke, it’s imperative that you address symptoms right away. Gum disease, if left untreated, can worsen and even lead to eventual tooth loss.

What causes gum disease?

Poor oral hygiene is the primary cause of gum disease. The buildup of plaque on your teeth from the bacteria in the food you eat can form a sticky, colorless plaque on your teeth. Brushing and flossing help get rid of plaque, but when it accumulates over time, it hardens and forms tartar. It takes professional cleanings to get rid of tartar and curb the effects of gum disease.

However, besides poor oral hygiene, there are a number of underlying risk factors associated with gum disease — including diabetes, hormonal changes in women, and smoking tobacco.

How is gum disease treated?

The main goal in treating gum disease is to reverse its negative effects by cleaning out any tartar buildup in your teeth. At Dr. Darj Dental, the dental team performs a procedure called root and scale planing to achieve this. This deep cleaning involves two steps.

First, during scaling, your dentist uses special dental instruments to remove plaque and tartar above and below the gumline, cleaning thoroughly all the way to the bottom of each pocket. Root planing is the second step and involves smoothing out the roots of your teeth to facilitate the healing of your gums. It may require some form of anesthesia.

The number of root and scale planing treatments you need depends on the severity of your gum disease. In cases where your gum disease has progressed to the point of tooth loss, the team at Dr. Darj Dental offers dental implants, surgically placed metal posts that can support healthy looking replacement teeth that can restore your smile.

Can you prevent gum disease?

The best way to prevent gum disease is to practice good oral hygiene habits. That means brushing and flossing twice daily, avoiding bad habits like smoking tobacco, and maintaining regular visits at Dr. Darj Dental.

Your checkups and yearly professional cleanings are a key part of your preventive care. The professional team at Dr. Darj Dental can make recommendations on how to better address your oral hygiene at home and clean out the spots your brushing and flossing may miss during in-office cleanings and other procedures.

To schedule your next appointment at Dr. Darj Dental, call the office or use the online booking tool today.