Don’t Ignore the Signs: Early Periodontal Disease Treatment

Periodontal disease treatment in Houston can do more than improve the appearance of your gums. It can help reduce pain and possibly even save your life.

Nearly everyone will, at some point in their life, develop some form of gum disease. The severity of it varies, but some level is almost always guaranteed.

So how can you stop the spread of gum disease? Regular visits to your Houston dentist in the 77057 area can prevent the onset of a potentially horrible condition.

Early Stages of Periodontal Disease

The earliest signs of gum disease often go unnoticed or are passed off as nothing serious.

They start out with inflammation, redness, puffiness, and discoloration of the gums. Sometimes, patients may not even have any symptoms, or they may be so mild that they don’t pay any mind to them.

If you are experiencing these symptoms, visit your local Memorial Galleria area dentist. The only way to have gum disease properly diagnosed is to have it professionally examined.

Later Stages of Periodontal Disease

As the gum disease progresses, the symptoms may become more noticeable. The gums can change to a purple or bright red color, they may be very tender to the touch, and they can be very swollen. The gum line may also recede as the disease progresses.

By this point, the disease has progressed to a point where you will need a professional intervention from a Houston dentist to stop the spread of the disease.

Periodontal Disease Treatment in Houston

Treating periodontal disease in Houston relies on targeting the bacteria that causes the infection. A deep cleaning is required to remove the plaque and tartar that house the bacteria, even under the gum line.

The primary method used is scaling and root planning. Scaling literally scrapes the teeth clean of bacteria. It can be uncomfortable, so sedation dentistry may be used.

Root planning smoothes the roots of the teeth to remove any grooves that may have formed. These grooves become havens for bacteria as regular cleaning methods can miss them.

The best way to cure periodontal disease is to prevent it. Catching the signs early, especially in the gingivitis stages where it’s much more manageable, and proper oral hygiene will go a long way toward preventing gum disease from taking root.

The American Dental Association recommends that you visit your local Houston dentist every six months and to get x-rays done every 12 months. The regular visit will involve a visual examination and a cleaning to check for signs of gum disease and clear away ay bacteria that could pose a threat to developing gum disease.

X-rays can get a view below the gums finding other issues that could lead to gum disease such as an abscess in the gums. An abscess is full of infected material, and if it infects the surrounding tissue, periodontal disease can develop.

Periodontal Disease as a Result of Other Means

Sometimes periodontal disease can flare up even if the patient is good about their oral health care. Certain diseases like diabetes can cause gum disease. In fact, periodontal disease is one of the earliest symptoms of diabetes, which can help someone catch it very early on.

Certain medications can also cause gum disease. It’s important to share your medical history including prescriptions with your dentist so they can more accurately diagnose the source of gum disease and other issues.