Are You Able to Reverse Gum Disease?

Gum disease is an infection of the gums that can progress from gingivitis all the way to periodontal disease. If caught early, you may be able to reverse the signs of gum disease and prevent a more serious infection from occurring. 

What is Gum Disease?

Also known as periodontitis, gum disease is a serious gum infection that can damage the soft tissues of the mouth. Further, if left untreated, it can destroy the bone that supports your teeth. This can result in loose adult teeth and even tooth loss. While gum disease is common, it is very preventable through good oral hygiene. Healthy gums are typically firm and a light pink color, but when gum disease takes over you can begin to experience the following symptoms:

• Swollen or puffy gums
• Bright red, dusky red or purplish gums
• Gums that feel tender when touched
• Gums that bleed easily
• Pink-tinged toothbrush after brushing
• Spitting out blood when brushing or flossing your teeth
• Bad breath
• Pus between your teeth and gums
• Loose teeth or loss of teeth
• Painful chewing
• New spaces developing between your teeth
• Gums that pull away from your teeth (recede), making your teeth look longer than normal
• A change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite

Stages of Gum Disease

As with a lot of health conditions, there are different stages of gum disease ranging from mild to severe. The three stages of this type of infection include: 

1. Gingivitis: The earliest stage is gingivitis. This stage involves inflammation of the gums caused by plaque buildup at the gumline. If your brushing and flossing habits aren’t removing plaque each day, it produces toxins that can irritate the gum tissue, which lead to gingivitis. At this early stage, your condition can often be reversed given that the bone and connective tissue that hold the teeth in place aren’t yet affected. 
2. Periodontitis: The second stage is periodontitis. At this stage, the supporting bone and fibers that hold your teeth in place are irreversibly damaged. This means your condition can’t fully be reversed with treatment. Your gums can begin to form a pocket below the gumline at this stage, which can trap food and plaque. While some damage has been done, improving your at-home dental hygiene routine and proper dental treatment can prevent any further damage. 
3. Advanced periodontitis: The final stage of gum disease is advanced periodontitis. In this stage, the fibers and bone supporting your teeth are destroyed, resulting in your teeth shifting, loosening, or even falling out altogether. This can affect how you eat and talk and typically needs aggressive treatment to prevent tooth loss. 

Treating Gum Disease

For mild cases of gum disease, treatment usually only includes a deep cleaning from a dental hygienist at your regular checkups and improving your at-home dental routine. A good at-home dental routine should include: 

• Brushing your teeth twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Being careful not to brush the gums directly, you should gently brush the entire surface of the tooth right up to the gumline. This should be done twice a day for two minutes each time. 
• Flossing once a day. Food and plaque can get lodged in the tight spaces between the teeth that brushing alone can’t remove. Once a day, floss between each tooth to remove this debris and keep the teeth and gums healthy and clean. 
• Use flouride. Whether in a mouthwash or a toothpaste, adding fluoride to your at-home dental routine can help strengthen your teeth and make them less prone to harmful effects from plaque and acids in the mouth. 
• Drink more water. Water can help flush the mouth and rinse away food right after eating. If you can’t brush your teeth soon after eating or drinking something other than water, drink water to cleanse the teeth until you’re able to brush and floss them. 
• Watch what you eat. The more sugars we eat, the more acids we produce in our mouths. These acids can attack enamel and weaken teeth, making them more susceptible to infection and disease. 

Advanced Treatment Options

If your gum disease has increased to periodontitis or advanced periodontitis, more invasive cleaning and treatments may be needed. This can include:

• Scaling and cleaning
• Medications, such as prescription mouth rinses, gels, and more
• Surgery

If advanced enough, you may need flap surgery or bone and tissue grafts to restore your gums to health. These procedures work to remove buildup and regenerate bone or gum tissue as needed. 

Make an Appointment with Stonebrook Family Dental 

If you are showing signs of gum disease, don’t hesitate to make an appointment with Stonebrook Family Dental. We will examine and clean your teeth and gums and provide you with the dental care you need. Call us today for an appointment: (303)-872-7907.