12
Sep
Preserve Your Smile by Treating Gum Disease Early
When life gets busy, routine dental care often gets relegated to the back burner. However, regular dental exams and cleanings are key to keeping your teeth and gums problem-free. Gingivitis (early gum disease) is a problem people can easily miss in its formative stage. At Positive Image Dental, Devonshire, Bermuda, we can detect this condition during a routine dental exam and provide early-stage gum disease treatment to keep it from worsening. Here’s what you should know about gum disease symptoms and treatments.
About Gingivitis and Periodontitis
Early gum disease is called gingivitis, which can be characterized by tender or swollen gums and mild bleeding when you brush your teeth. Early gingivitis symptoms can often be reversed by taking better care of your teeth. This includes daily brushing and flossing and keeping up with routine dental cleanings.
If you ignore these symptoms or don’t take them seriously, gingivitis can progress to periodontitis, advanced gum disease, which can severely damage your gums and teeth and lead to tooth loss. There’s no cure for periodontitis. However, your dentists can provide treatments to manage your symptoms and save your teeth.
Warning Signs of Gum Disease
The following are some early warning signs of gingivitis:
- Swollen, tender gums
- Visible plaque buildup on your teeth
- Gums that bleed when you brush or floss your teeth
As your condition worsens to periodontitis, you may experience:
- Persistent bad breath, even after brushing teeth
- Receding gums
- Tooth discoloration due to tartar buildup
- Weak or loose teeth
- Premature tooth loss
The good news is that gingivitis can be diagnosed early during a routine dental exam. This gives you a chance to nip it in the bud before it progresses into periodontitis.
Early-Stage Gum Disease Treatment
If you’re showing signs of gingivitis, schedule a checkup with your dentist to diagnose your condition. Our dentists at Positive Image Dental are well-versed in treating gum disease and can recommend steps to improve your tooth and gum health.
Depending on your condition, we may suggest changes to your oral hygiene routine or schedule more frequent dental cleanings to minimize plaque and tartar buildup on your teeth – the primary causes of gum disease. Daily brushing, flossing, and biannual dental cleanings are an excellent start to reversing gingivitis symptoms.
Deep Cleaning for Periodontitis
If gingivitis has progressed to periodontitis, we may recommend scaling and root planing treatment to restore tooth and gum health. Scaling gets rid of plaque and tartar that has accumulated on your teeth, above and below the gum line, where harmful bacteria breed. Root planing smooths out the rough surfaces of your tooth roots to keep bacteria from gathering there again. This gives your gums a chance to heal. You may need several SRP treatments throughout the year to manage periodontitis symptoms and restore your oral health.
Gum Disease Treatment Near Me
To schedule a checkup for gum disease diagnosis and treatment, contact your Devonshire, Bermuda dentists from Positive Image Dental today at (441) 292-2312.
Share this Article
The Positive Image Dental team comprises three doctors:
Ian Campbell, DMD graduated from Saltus Grammar School, Mount Allison University, and McGill University Dental School. He has over 40 years of experience in dentistry and is reputed for providing high-quality dental care in Bermuda. Dr. Campbell is passionate about lifelong learning and staying abreast of the latest trends in dentistry.
Christopher Allington, DMD is an alumnus of the University of Queens, McGill Dental School, and University of Connecticut. He has been practicing in Bermuda for over 12 years and is a member, past president, and chair of the Bermuda Dental Association and Bermuda Dental Board. He is a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry and International Congress of Oral Implantology and is registered for fellowship in the International Association of Orthodontics.
Dr. Lara Loescher BDS, MFDS RCSEd is a graduate of Bermuda High School and University of Bristol, a member of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, and is completing a Masters in Aesthetic and Restorative dentistry. She has been practicing general and cosmetic dentistry, including Invisalign, for over 13 years and is interested in diabetes management.
Dr. Faraz, BSc, BDS, MA, is passionate about all aspects of high-quality dentistry, especially endodontics and cosmetic dentistry. His enthusiasm for cutting-edge technologies and techniques keeps him grounded in minimally invasive dentistry.
Dr. Faraz earned his doctorate in dentistry from King’s College London in 2011 after earning a bachelor’s degree in Human Sciences. He worked in Oxfordshire for ten years before moving to London to work full-time at his family practice. Dr. Faraz routinely pursues additional training to improve his skill in rebuilding exceptionally natural-looking teeth.
He gains tremendous satisfaction from supporting anxious patients in overcoming their dental phobias via his passion and patience, restoring confidence in their oral health. Dr. Faraz looks forward to serving you with all your needs while ensuring your trust is always in safe hands.