Can You Reverse Gum Disease? [Video Q&A]

Gum disease is an inflammatory condition that causes pain, swelling, and deterioration of your gums and jawbone. While it starts out as gingivitis (a less serious infection), gum disease will eventually progress to periodontitis without treatment. Periodontitis has dangerous consequences, potentially altering your jawbone and gum structure permanently. But with early intervention, we may be able to stop gum disease in its tracks and even reverse the effects of gingivitis! If you think you may be struggling with gum disease, visit Riviera Dental Care in Foley, AL! We will help remove any signs of infection and restore your smile to health.

What Causes Periodontal Disease?

The most common cause of periodontal disease is poor oral hygiene. To take care of your smile well, you need to brush your teeth at least twice a day, floss regularly, and attend routine dental visits.

When you don’t practice good oral hygiene, plaque and bacteria will accumulate, leading to inflammation and infection. As plaque builds up on your enamel along the gum line, it hardens over time into a substance called tartar.

Tartar creates an ideal rough surface for more plaque to build, making your at-home care less effective. Your gums may become irritated and inflamed as the infection spreads beneath them. And without treatment, your gums will eventually detach from your tooth, creating “pockets” for bacteria to gather.

At this point, the gum and bone structure responsible for securing your teeth begins to deteriorate. The further along in the process, the more likely it is that the disease will cause permanent damage to your smile.

But by caring for your smile and attending routine dental visits, you can help reduce your risk of infection! During regular hygiene appointments, we will check for any early signs of gum disease to help reverse its effects before they become too serious.

What Are the Signs of Gum Disease?

With early intervention, we can reverse the effects of gum disease. However, it’s often difficult to detect the infection in its early stages. That’s partly why it’s so important to attend routine dental visits! During these appointments, we will assess your smile and monitor for signs of gingivitis you may miss.

Common signs of gum disease include:

• Bleeding gums when brushing or flossing
• Persistent bad taste in your mouth
• Persistent bad breath
• Swelling or red gum tissue

As with other diseases, you may not experience pain until the condition has already progressed.

By the time your condition has advanced to periodontitis, you may be dealing with severe pain, loose or shifting teeth, and even changes in your bite. Recognizing these early indicators is essential for timely treatment and preventing further complications.

Can You Reverse Gum Disease?

It is possible to reverse gum disease, but only if you act fast.

When dealing with gingivitis, the effects may be reversible. If the infection hasn’t spread too far below your gums yet, we can treat your smile more effectively!

We begin with a consultation. There, we will assess your smile and determine how far along your condition is. If you’re still in the gingivitis stage, we may be able to reverse the effects.

We’ll provide a professional cleaning to remove harmful bacteria from your teeth. Then, if necessary, we’ll perform scaling and root planing treatment, which involves reaching below your gums and scraping off any bacteria that lingers there.

Then, the rest is up to you.

To prevent gingivitis from returning, you’ll need to keep up with your oral hygiene at home. This means brushing at least twice a day, preferably with an electric toothbrush, which does the work for you. Then, be sure to floss regularly, as it helps remove plaque from between your teeth. At Riviera Dental Care, we encourage our patients with gum disease to use a water flosser. The machine shoots a gentle stream of water into your mouth, clearing out bacteria and debris without irritating your gums.

And finally, be sure to attend routine dental visits at least twice a year. These visits aren’t just a formality. They are a necessary step to keep your smile clean and healthy! During these appointments, we will look for signs of gum disease that you may have missed and provide you with preventive care that helps keep bacteria away.

Reverse Gum Disease Before It Spreads

Gum disease is no joke and needs to be taken seriously. If you think you may be experiencing signs of an infection, don’t wait! Early intervention is key to reversing gum disease. Book an appointment at Riviera Dental Care in Foley, AL, to learn what we can do for your smile.

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