What is Gum Disease?
Gum disease, also called periodontitis, is an infection that can damage the soft tissue in your mouth. If left untreated, gum disease can damage the bone supporting your teeth, leading to tooth loss and overall health issues.
Gum disease is caused by plaque buildup. Plaque on the surface of your teeth can be removed with regular brushing and flossing, but as plaque builds up, it hardens and becomes tartar, which must be removed during a regular dental cleaning. A buildup of tartar underneath your gumline can cause gum inflammation, bleeding gums, and gingivitis, a mild form of gum disease. If left untreated, gingivitis can progress into periodontitis. For some cases of acute periodontal (gum) disease that don’t respond to conventional treatment, your dentist may recommend more specialized treatment, such as scaling or root planing.
Healthy gums are light pink, firm to the touch, and snug around your teeth. Symptoms of gum disease include:
- Swollen gums, puffy gums, or receding gums
- Gums that are bright red, dark red, or dark purple in color
- Gums that are tender when touched or bleed easily
- Loose teeth
- Bad breath
- Pus between your teeth and gums
Preventing Gum Disease
Gum disease is usually a result of poor oral hygiene, and is easy to prevent by brushing and flossing daily, as well as getting regular dental cleanings with a dental hygienist. Our team of dentists in Ames, Iowa can help monitor your dental hygiene and keep your teeth at their best.
Treating Gum Disease
One of the most common treatments for gum disease is called scaling and root planing. During this procedure, your dentist will administer a local anesthetic to reduce any discomfort. Then, a small ultrasonic cleaner called a scaler is used to remove plaque and tartar buildup beneath your gumline. After this, the root surfaces of the tooth are smoothed to help the gums reattach themselves to the tooth structure.
