One of the reasons why periodontal (gum) disease affects so many people before they notice it is because the disease occurs in stages. The first, known as gingivitis, doesn’t always produce obvious symptoms, and patients who skip a checkup and cleaning miss the chance for their dentists to more thoroughly check for it. In its more advanced stages, gum disease is often irreversible, which means even after you do notice it and seek treatment, it may be present for the rest of your life. Today, we examine how we help patients in Encinitas/San Diego by diagnosing their specific periodontal disease and designing treatment options specifically for them.

Sings that Your Gums Are Diseased

The early signs of gingivitis, the first stage of gum disease, aren’t always obvious, but that doesn’t mean they’re completely undetectable. It starts when harmful oral bacteria gather along your gum lines and infect your gum tissue. The irritation causes your gums to grow red and increasingly more inflamed, and they can bleed occasionally when you brush and floss your teeth. You may also develop chronic bad breath that only grows worse, sensitivity in your gums, and/or dark patches developing in certain areas of your gum tissue.

Pinpointing the Severity of It

Gingivitis also causes your gums to recede from your teeth, which forms widening pockets between your periodontal tissues and your teeth roots. These periodontal pockets are safehouses for oral bacteria to accumulate more excessively, causing your gum disease to progress more rapidly. The size and depth of these pockets will help us determine the exact severity of your gum disease and how comprehensive your treatment and management plan will have to be.

Diagnose and Treat Your Specific Gum Disease

The first step to restoring your good periodontal health is to diagnose your specific level of gum disease so that it can be treated appropriately. For more information, or to learn how to take the first step to fighting your gum disease, schedule a consultation with Dr. Kania by calling her periodontal office in Encinitas/San Diego, CA, at (760) 642-0711.