How Periodontal Disease Harms Your Smile

According to the Centers for Disease Control, half of adults age 35 and older suffer from some form of periodontal disease. Without treatment, this could not only lead to discomfort, but tooth loss too. In today’s blog, your Encinitas/San Diego, CA, periodontist talks about how the presence of periodontal disease harms your smile, and how we can offer treatment.

The Causes and Common Symptoms of Periodontal Disease

What causes periodontal disease to form in our smile? When the gums become inflamed, also known as gingivitis, this could lead to swelling, sensitivity, and discomfort. Without treatment to reverse the inflammation, gingivitis could grow in severity until the gums pull away from the teeth and form pockets at the gum line. When harmful oral bacteria enter these pockets, this leads to the onset of periodontal disease. Underlying factors behind inflammation vary, but could include plaque buildup brought on by poor brushing and flossing habits, as well as a diet high in sugar and starch. Tobacco use could be a cause, as could the presence of inflammatory illness, certain medications, or even a family history of the disease.

When you have gums that feel sore, look red, or bleed easily, you need to see our team for an exam and diagnosis right away!

The Risks of Tooth Loss

Did you know that untreated gum disease is the most common cause of tooth loss? When the disease reaches the periodontitis stage, the tissues connecting your teeth and gums could become severed. As a result, your teeth become loose and could fall out. While periodontal disease cannot be cured, we can offer care to manage it and keep the periodontitis stage at bay. You are then more likely to maintain your natural teeth. If you do suffer from tooth loss, we can offer dental implants to replace them after we properly manage the disease.

Treatment Options

If we catch the issue in the early stages, we can reverse gingivitis and manage gum disease with a scaling and root planing, also known as a deep cleaning. This involves removing all plaque from the teeth and roots. We could also employ advanced dental lasers to remove diseased tissues and reshape the gum line, so we can manage the issue with preventive treatments like cleaning every three to four months or Ozone Therapy. If you have receding gums, we can use lasers and the Pinhole Surgical Technique to correct this ion one visit.

Talk to Dr. Kania About Treating Gum Disease

We want to help you smile with confidence and avoid the risk of missing teeth! To learn more about how our team boosts your gum health, or to schedule your appointment, give us a call at our office in Encinitas, CA today at 760-642-0711.