gum-health

General dentistry

Gum Health. Healthy gums. Healthy Mouth. Healthy Life.

Gum disease presents in patients in two forms – gingivitis and periodontitis. Left untreated, gum disease is the primary cause of tooth loss.

About Gum Disease at Drouin Dental.

At Drouin Dental, our specialists will begin with identifying whether or not you have gum disease. A combination of xrays with an oral examination will assess soft tissue, gum pockets, tissue detachment, gum recession and bone loss. When we have identified all issues presenting, a treatment plan will be put into place to address your needs and can include periodontal cleaning, deep cleaning or locally placed antibiotics. For patients with advanced gum disease, surgeries for bone or soft tissue grafting may be required.

Gingivitis.

Gingivitis is considered mild and reversible, involving inflammation of the gums from plaque build-up, poor nutrition and dental hygiene. Professional cleans combined with better at home care via brushing and flossing can easily treat and reverse gingivitis.

Periodontitis.

Periodontitis is considered severe and irreversible, involving the destruction of tooth supporting ligaments and bone. This disease presents with bad breath, gum recession, loose teeth and eventual tooth loss.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How does gum disease affect my overall health? close

    Your gum health is very important not only for your healthy smile, but it also helps to maintain your overall health. To
    date, scientists have found links between gum disease and a number of other problems, including:

    • Heart disease
    • Diabetes
    • Rheumatoid arthritis

    Complications during pregnancy and low birth weights
    The best way to manage these problems is to manage gum disease. Excellent home care and regular visits to the dentist
    can reduce the risk of these complications.

  • Can receding gums cause teeth to fall out? close

    Yes. Without healthy tissue attachment, there is nothing to help hold the teeth into place. Do your gums grow back? No. If severe gum loss is a concern, therapies such as soft tissue grafting can help to re-cover the areas affected by recession.

  • Is gum disease reversible? close

    You shouldn’t delay a gum disease examination. The first step is to find the cause of the gum disease. The next step is to treat it effectively. Good oral hygiene can reverse the earliest form of gum disease: gingivitis. Through daily brushing and flossing, you can lift away soft plaque biofilm to prevent it from calcifying in place. But once it has hardened into tartar, only a dental professional can clean away the build-up.

  • Does smoking cause gum disease? close

    If you smoke, you may not experience the same symptoms as a person who does not use tobacco products. In many cases, smoking can inhibit the symptoms of inflammation and bleeding, masking the most common warning signs of gum disease.

  • What are the signs and symptoms of periodontal disease? close
    • halitosis (or bad breath)
    • gum recession
    • difficulty chewing
    • bleeding gums
    • loss of gum tone and texture
    • redness of the gums
    • tooth movement and migration
    • painful gums
    • swollen gums
    • bad taste
  • Does mouthwash help prevent gum disease? close

    No mouth rinse has been proven to prevent gum disease; however, in some situations a periodontist (gum specialist) may recommend use of a short course of antibacterial mouth rinse in conjunction with in-chair treatment.

Have you considered our other General Dentistry services?