Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is an infection of the gums surrounding your teeth. We have worked with many of our Lubbock dental patients who are suffering from gum disease, and due to the mild effects, many patients don’t know they have gum disease.

To ensure that you do not have to suffer from the pain or discomfort that comes with gum disease you should visit our Lubbock dental clinic every 4-6 months.

During your regular visits, our dental team will examine your entire mouth to look for signs of moderate or advanced gum disease. During these visits, you will receive professional advice on how to prevent gum disease and how to address the symptoms if you develop this disease.

Gum disease is a degenerative illness primarily brought on by bacteria found in plaque. While it is natural to have some plaque on your teeth over time due to drinking and eating foods throughout the day, the germs inflame and infect the gum tissues. When left untreated, these harmful germs can eventually cause your gums to pull away from your teeth.

If this process is not addressed by a professional dentist, you can experience significant pain, and health issues from the untreated periodontal disease could result in bone loss, tooth loss, and gum tissue recession.

Gum disease is caused by a buildup of plaque (a sticky form of bacteria that forms on the teeth). If the plate isn’t eliminated (by flossing, brushing, and regular dental check up ), then it will continue to build up and create toxins that can damage the gums. Over time this damage can result in inflamed gums and sensitive teeth that can cause ongoing pain and discomfort.

Periodontal disease strains just below the gum line also create small pockets that separate the teeth from the teeth. Celiac disease has two phases: gingivitis and periodontitis.

Gingivitis: This is often found during the early stages of gum disease, and this can cause gums to become inflamed, red, and bleed easily. Gingivitis is curable with careful oral hygiene and can usually be removed by daily brushing and flossing. A regular dental check-up can also reveal the spread of gingivitis, and we will work with you to ensure that your entire mouth is as healthy as possible.

Periodontitis: If left untreated, gingivitis may progress into periodontitis that can spread to the gums and bone. As a result, your base and jaw bone can be impacted, and this is a concern since this area of your mouth supports your teeth and can be irreversibly damaged. Gums infected with periodontitis may cause teeth to become loose, fall out, or be removed by our Lubbock dental team.

If your gums are inflamed or sore, you may suffer from the gum infection. During your regular visits with our Lubbock dental team, our staff will work with you to identify, treat, and prevent the ongoing side effects of gum disease.

We will educate and work with you to find ways to prevent the spread or development of gum disease, while also looking at different solutions to help you keep a healthy smile.

If your gums are swollen, red, or tender, or if your gums bleed easily, you might have a periodontal infection. Other common signs of gum disease include:

• Advanced loss of teeth.
• Painful chewing or sensitivity to hot or cold liquids.
• Continually bad breath.
• Inflamed, red, or sensitive gums around the base of your teeth.

After your initial consultation with our Lubbock dental team, our knowledgeable staff may recommend that you undergo procedures to address your gum disease. The remedy for gum disease relies upon your specific dental needs, and we will suggest a course of action based on your unique needs and situation.

Based upon the severity of the problem, your dentist may recommend other professional dental cleanings, improved at-home dental hygiene, antibiotic therapy, scaling and root canal (deep cleanings), or gum operation. We will talk with you about these options and help you understand if these recommendations are the best approach to help you gain a healthy and beautiful smile.

From the moment that you meet that talk with our dental team, you will receive the best dental services in Lubbock, TX. We will do our best to help you regain the smile and health that you want by stopping the development of the disease in the first place. We offer several remedies for gum disease, and we also have several solutions that can help the spread or prevent the early gum disease from causing you pain or discomfort.

The recommended process to treat your gum disease depends on how advanced, widespread, or severe the condition has developed.

After a thorough consultation, we will review your digital X-rays with you and discuss your treatment choices, answer questions, and then explain next steps. We may discuss several treatment options, and below are some of the decisions that we may recommend.

As part of your scaling and root planing therapy, our Lubbock dental team will numb your gums using a topical anesthetic and also use a scaler to remove plaque buildup below the gum line. If needed, sedation may also be supplied.

Next, we will use a planing device to smooth the dental follicles. This procedure allows the gums to reattach to the bottom of the teeth. Once treatment is complete, we will supply you with a prescription ointment to avoid infection as your gums heal, and your body’s natural defenses strengthen.

Antibiotic therapies come in many different types, such as oral forms and topical gels which are applied directly into the gum pockets. By working with many Lubbock patients just like you, we have learned that antibiotic treatments are useful in the event of acute periodontal infection, refractory periodontal disease, prepubertal periodontal infection and esophageal periodontal disease.

Antibiotics can be prescribed at a low dose for long-term use, or even as a short-term medication to dissuade bacteria from re-colonizing. Talk to your dental expert today to learn which option is best for your unique situation today!

Maintaining regular oral hygiene like brushing and flossing your teeth is a great way to prevent the spread of gum disease. We also recommend visiting our Lubbock dental office every 4-6 months to undergo more intensive dental cleanings to ensure the best oral health possible.

It’s also possible to detect early forms of gum disease by taking a close look at your gums once a week or during brushings. You can evaluate your gums either visually and by identifying any receding areas of gums at the base of your teeth.

Be sure to live a healthy life by eating right, reducing anxiety in your daily life, and providing up unhealthy habits like smoking will also help make sure that you maintain your teeth for a lifetime. These are all ways that you can prevent the chances of getting gum disease and reducing the spread of the illness should you contract it.