Periodontal Disease (Gum Infection) in Frederick, MD
When you think of dental health, you may automatically think of the health of the teeth, but dentists are also very concerned about the condition of your gums. When gums are neglected, there’s a risk that serious conditions like periodontal disease can develop. Learn more about this gum infection and how our dentists at PearlFection Dentistry help treat it.
What Is Periodontal Disease?
Periodontal disease, also called periodontitis, is an advanced gum infection that poses a threat to a patient’s overall dental and oral health. The gums are compromised by bacteria that infects the patient’s bone tissue and eventually separates the gums from the teeth. If this process isn’t caught and treated in its early stages, there may be a risk of tooth loss and infections that could affect the patient’s overall health.
Symptoms of Periodontal Disease
Symptoms of infected gums become almost impossible to ignore over time.
Here are a few things to look out for:
- Red, swollen, and bleeding gums
- Deep pockets forming between the teeth and gums
- Odorous breath that persists even after brushing
- Loosening teeth
What Causes Your Gums To Become Infected?
Medical researchers have isolated the bacteria that commonly causes periodontitis to progress—it is called NI1060 and it is particularly damaging to bone tissue in the mouth. Though some experts believe that it is a condition that runs in families, the main cause of periodontal disease is poor dental care over an extended period of time. You can brush your teeth often and still get gum disease if you don’t floss and remove plaque from around the gumline.
How Your Frederick, MD Dentist Treats Periodontal Disease
Our specialists at PearlFection Dentistry offer non-surgical periodontal therapy such as scaling and root planing, periodontal surgery, bone grafting, and implant dentistry as options to reverse the symptoms of periodontitis. Medication may also be prescribed that can keep bad bacteria at bay. The chance of successfully treating gum infection is high as long as it’s treated promptly and you follow the instructions of your dentist.