One of the biggest reasons why gum disease is so prevalent is because, for most people, it’s incurable. Once it develops and progresses, it will always remain present, and the only way to protect your smile is to successfully manage it. However, for many people, there is still a small window of opportunity to reverse the earliest stage of gum disease, known as gingivitis. At our Encinitas/San Diego, CA, periodontal office, we can detect gingivitis in its earliest stage of development and perform personalized treatment that may be able to reverse it before it can progress.
Catching gingivitis early
The signs and symptoms of gingivitis are not always immediately obvious, but they are usually distinctive. For example, the bacterial infection that causes it can make certain areas of your gums red, angry-looking, and swollen. It might also cause your gum tissues to separate slightly from your teeth, creating increasingly larger periodontal pockets. While you may not notice these signs at first, your dentist or periodontist can spot them easily during a routine examination. Therefore, sticking to a regular schedule of preventive visits is vital to improving your chances of reversing gingivitis, if it forms.
How to (possibly) reverse it
If we detect gingivitis, then treating it as soon as possible is essential. To stop the disease from progressing, we’ll carefully access and clean your teeth roots of the harmful plaque and tartar that have developed on them. This will give your gums the chance to heal and adhere back to your teeth, and if the condition is still minor enough, then it may eliminate the disease entirely. However, if the infection is more extensive, then removing the harmful oral bacteria may just be the first step in stopping the disease from growing worse and controlling its presence.
If it’s already too late
If your gingivitis is no longer reversible, then you can still protect your healthy smile with a personalized periodontal treatment and maintenance plan. For example, laser treatment (known as the LANAP protocol) can comfortably and precisely remove diseased gum tissues to preserve what remains of your healthy gums. Treatments such as ozone and platelet-rich therapies can provide comfortable, holistic options for ensuring oral bacteria don’t overwhelm your gums again.
Reverse or control your gingivitis
If you catch it and treat it early enough, you may still have a good chance at reversing your gingivitis. For more information, schedule a consultation with Dr. Kania by calling her periodontal office in Encinitas/San Diego, CA, at (760) 642-0711.