Understanding Periodontal Disease: Causes, Stages, and Treatment Options

Have you been told you have gum disease? It may come as a surprise because you don’t have pain or other obvious symptoms. Unfortunately, that is where many patients fall into its trap. Gum disease, also called periodontal disease, “silently” damages your gums and surrounding tissues without apparent signs. Nevertheless, there are subtle indicators you should be vigilant about that should prompt you to seek timely treatment.

Would you like to learn more about periodontal disease? Please get in touch with ClearCare Periodontal and Implant Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba. But before that, please take a moment to read the following post for a deeper understanding of gum disease.

What is periodontal disease?

Periodontal disease is the infection of the gums and the tissues around them. Gum disease occurs when plaque accumulates in the mouth. This sticky, colorless film forms in your mouth when food particles mix with saliva. If plaque isn’t removed with brushing and flossing, it calcifies into tartar, which can only be removed by a dentist. 

Gum disease develops in two main stages. These include:

• Gingivitis: It’s the earliest form of gum disease, often characterized by gum swelling, redness, and blood spots when brushing. When spotted early, gingivitis can be reversed with good oral hygiene and professional dental cleaning
• Periodontitis: When you don’t treat gingivitis, it’s only a matter of time before it advances into periodontitis. At this stage, the infection isn’t just on the surface of the gums — it moves deeper into the supporting structures of the teeth. When you have periodontitis, your gums start pulling away from the teeth (receding), forming periodontal pockets that hide tartar and bacteria. Failing to treat periodontitis results in the infection breaking down the bone and tissues supporting the teeth, causing tooth loss

Healthy gums are pink, fit snugly around teeth, and don’t bleed. When you see changes in your gums, however subtle, don’t brush it off as another mere inconvenience. Gum disease isn’t painful, so be on the lookout and seek prompt treatment.

Gum disease treatments

Our periodontists — Drs. Hoda Hosseini and Katie Chung — diagnose gum disease by examining your gums for signs of swelling, redness, recession, and bleeding. We may also use a periodontal probe to confirm the diagnosis. If the depth between your gums and teeth is more than three millimeters, it may indicate the presence of gum disease. The deeper the periodontal pockets, the more advanced your gum disease is.

Treating gum disease depends on its stage. Gingivitis can be reversed with good oral hygiene, but advanced gum disease requires additional treatments. 

Our periodontal team offers the treatment options below.

• Deep teeth cleaning: This treatment involves scaling to remove plaque and tartar from the deep pockets. After this procedure, we smoothen your gums to promote healing and discourage future bacterial attacks
• Periodontal surgery: Advanced periodontitis may cause severe damage to your gums and the surrounding bone. In such cases, you may need gum flap surgery, bone grafting, and soft tissue grafting to restore your gum health

Preventing gum disease is the most cost-effective method for safeguarding your oral health, and good oral habits are vital to keeping your gums free from infection. 

Brush your teeth twice daily, floss daily, and see a dentist every six months. Furthermore, avoid smoking and manage systemic diseases that make you vulnerable to gum disease. 

Gum disease treatment near me

Suspect gum disease in Winnipeg, MB? Whether you have mild or severe periodontal disease, please call (204) 421-9236 to schedule an appointment with ClearCare Periodontal and Implant Centre.