Periodontal / Gum Disease Treatment

Scaling and root planing every six months will help you keep good oral hygiene and save your teeth from gum disease.

Periodontal scaling and root planing is necessary for those experiencing gum disease (gingivitis or periodontitis)

If you see bleeding on brushing, loose teeth, gums that look swollen or red, or have receded below the normal gum line and started showing the roots of your teeth, then you know you have gum disease.

If you treat gum disease in the early stages (gingivitis), your gums can get back to normal within 2 weeks. However, if you try to treat gum disease in the later stages (periodontitis), it can take several months to reverse the damage.

Yes, if you act early, you can save loose teeth from gum disease.

The treatment for gum disease depends on the severity and stage of the disease. It can vary from simple tooth cleaning and root planing in the early stages to surgical procedures like flap surgery in the advanced stages.

• Gums bleed on brushing
• Swollen, tender or red gums
• Receded gums
• Loose or mobile teeth
• Foul-smelling breath
• Pus in the gums
• Pain on chewing or biting
• Sensitive teeth

Periodontal disease or gum disease, referred to as periodontitis by dentists, is an advanced stage of Gingivitis, or inflammation of the gums. Early gingivitis is characterized by gums that bleed on brushing, which progresses to later stages when the gums appear red, swollen, tender on touch, and spontaneously bleed.

If left unchecked, gingivitis progresses to periodontitis which is characterized by receding gums, loose teeth and destruction of the surrounding bone below the gum line. Sometimes, you may experience foul smell and taste, as well as pus in your gums.

Our gums attach to the teeth a little below the visible gum line. The area between the gums and teeth, just below the visible gum line is called the sulcus. Gum disease begins when plaque (a thin biofilm formed on the tooth surfaces) and bacteria accumulate in the sulcus of teeth. If proper oral hygiene is not maintained and brushing does not reach the sulcus area, plaque keeps on accumulating and eventually turns into a hard substance called calculus which is very difficult to remove. Calculus contains food debris and bacteria that damage the gums and underlying bone, promoting the progression of the gum infection.

Gum disease treatment comes with a lot of benefits

• Regular scaling and tooth cleaning are good for your dental health
• Protects teeth from becoming loose and falling out
• Removal of calculus and stains during cleaning improves aesthetics
• Surgery may help in promoting better attachment of gums to the teeth

Yes, with proper treatment and care, your gums can heal and return to their healthy states even after experiencing gum disease.

Yes, gum disease can get painful in the advanced stages. We advise you to come and see our specialist as soon as you note any of the symptoms

Advanced periodontal disease can cause gums to recede below the gum line and also destroy the surrounding bone around a tooth. Periodontal surgery aims to lift the gums back to their original position and fit them snugly around the tooth. It can also help in grafting new bone in an area where the bone was destroyed.

No, just getting a tooth extraction will not cure your periodontal disease. You still have to take care of your remaining teeth with regular tooth cleaning.

Yes, the food you eat has a major impact on your periodontal health. A balanced diet with essential macro-and micronutrients will help keep your gums healthy.

Sugar-free chewing gum can help stimulate salivary flow in your mouth, which can help in cleansing your teeth and gums of harmful toxins produced by bacteria. This can help in preventing tooth decay, but its role in preventing gum disease is questionable.

Although bacteria causing gum disease can be transferred through saliva, as long as you maintain good oral hygiene through brushing and flossing, you won’t get gum disease. So no, gum disease is not contagious.