For some adults, gum disease is like an acute illness - it happens suddenly, but with treatment, you will recover. For other adults, gum disease is like a chronic illness - a permanent fixture that can be managed but not cured. Whether you are in the beginning stage of gum disease, the intermediate stage, or the late stage, there are treatments you can use to improve your gum health.
The Older You Are, the More Likely You Have Gum Disease
Gum disease affects 40 percent of all adults in the United States. As you grow older, the likelihood of you having gum disease increases. By the time you reach senior adulthood, you have a high chance - 75 percent - of having the disease. In other words, the earlier you catch the gum disease, the less likely you will need deep gum treatments, and the more likely you are to cure your disease.
Treatments for Gum Disease
Although gum disease can be a serious illness, it is treatable. If you have a mild form of the disease, you will be able to treat your disease with frequent tooth brushing and flossing, regular visits to the dentist, and gum health toothpaste.
If you have intermediate or late-stage gum disease, your treatment will become more challenging. You will need to have scaling and root planing, which is a deep gum cleaning. Dentists reach below your gumline with special tools to get rid of plaque and tartar as well as infection. If you have dental roots showing along your gumline, dentists can reattach those roots, which not only relieves pain and sensitivity but also helps your teeth stay healthy.
For the most serious cases, dentists may have to use surgical techniques to get your gum infection under control. There is a procedure in which dentists make an incision in your gums to get special tools in the area to treat your gum disease. This is a more permanent treatment for your periodontitis.
Not sure which gum treatment is right for you? Contact our dental office today for an appointment.
For some adults, gum disease is like an acute illness - it happens suddenly, but with treatment, you will recover. For other adults, gum disease is like a chronic illness - a permanent fixture that can be managed but not cured. Whether you are in the beginning stage of gum disease, the intermediate stage, or the late stage, there are treatments you can use to improve your gum health.