Gum Disease

Gum disease is a serious oral health infection and the leading cause of tooth loss among adults. At Manhattan Beach Dental Solutions in Manhattan Beach, CA, we deliver gentle, compassionate gum disease treatment for all stages of this infection to restore your oral health.

Symptoms of Gum Disease

Gum disease advances in stages, which means it can be caught before it gets too severe. However, once gum disease has begun, it cannot be stopped without professional help from your dentist.

Here are the most common symptoms of gum disease:

• Red gums
• Dark or blotchy gums
• Swollen gums
• Bleeding gums
• Tender gums
• Puffy gums
• Gum irritation
• Gum recession
• Bad breath
• Loose teeth

Gum disease does start small and signs may not always be visible – but your dentist will recognize a problem immediately.

Causes of Gum Disease

Good oral hygiene is the biggest key to combatting the development of gum disease. Daily, diligent brushing and flossing will keep plaque and bacteria at bay, as well as regular visits to your dentist for a check-up and cleaning every six months.

If excess plaque builds up on teeth near the gum line, the bacteria within the plaque will leave gums infected and the first stage of gum disease – gingivitis – will develop. When the soft tissues in the mouth are irritated, they trigger an inflammatory response that causes gums to loosen, further advancing the gum disease. Pockets form around the teeth and allow bacteria to infiltrate even deeper, attack connective tissue and bone, and loosen teeth.

Some people, unfortunately, are prone to gum disease even with good oral health care. Heredity, pregnancy, certain medications, and some health conditions can affect your gums and cause periodontitis to develop. But there is always a solution from your Manhattan Beach dentist.

Treatment for Gum Disease

Periodontal disease will never reverse on its own. Once this problem has set in, you need professional care and cleaning from your dentist to treat this overgrowth of bacteria in the mouth and restore your oral health. Without prompt attention, gum disease can devastate your smile and have severe effects on overall health and wellness.

At Manhattan Beach Dental Solutions, we provide careful, gentle, targeted gum disease treatment. This process begins with administering a sophisticated DNA test to identify the type of oral bacteria present in the mouth. This information helps inform which antibiotics and other medications will be most effective in helping combat gum disease and effectively eliminate problem bacteria, in conjunction with a thorough cleaning.

Diseased gum tissue will be painlessly removed with laser therapy. At-home maintenance is also prescribed, using custom-fit trays and antibacterial gel to help maintain a fresh, healthy mouth. It is incredibly important to follow your Manhattan Beach dentist’s instructions for oral health care and follow-up dental visits to effectively fight this infection and reestablish healthy teeth and gums.

Restoring Your Smile After Periodontal Disease

If gum disease has advanced to full-blown periodontitis and teeth have begun to loosen or already fallen out, you may also be at the stage where the jawbone has been resorbed by the body, giving the face a collapsed or sunken-in appearance. Do not despair. It is possible to rebuild your smile through restorative dentistry like dental implants and dentures once the gum disease has been cleared and your mouth offers a good foundation for starting over.

Contact Manhattan Beach Dental Solutions to schedule an appointment for gum disease treatment and ongoing care. We want you to have a healthy smile for life, and it is our privilege to help you achieve it, no matter what kind of condition your oral health is in now. There is always a way to fix your smile – but you must reach out for help to make it happen.

You can begin by preventing gum disease with good oral health. Pick up a brochure or ask your dentist today.

Video Transcript

The 3 stages of gum disease are gingivitis, periodontitis, and advanced periodontitis. Gingivitis is caused by toxins irritating the gum line as a result of plaque buildup. Signs and symptoms of gingivitis includes swelling, sensitivity, and bleeding of the gums during brushing and flossing. Gingivitis can be easily reversed through professional care and good home oral hygiene. Periodontitis is categorized by irreversible bone loss that results from untreated gingivitis. The gums may begin to form a pocket below the gum line which traps food and plaque. Dental treatment and home care can help prevent from further damage, but at this stage, the results are not reversible. Advanced periodontitis is when the fibers and bones supporting the teeth destroyed. This may cause teeth to shift or loosen. Teeth may have to be removed depending on how advanced the disease has become and if treatments are not effective. You can begin by preventing gum disease with good oral health. Pick up a brochure or ask your dentist today.