What is Periodontal Disease?
Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, is when the gums and tissues supporting the teeth become infected. As the bacteria grow in the tissue that forms around your teeth, it will begin to destroy the gums, bones, and other structures that support your teeth.
In the beginning, your body will attempt to fight off the infection by sending immune cells to your gums which causes inflammation and symptoms such as swelling and redness. While the infection progresses, the bacteria begin to corrupt your body’s immune response and turns the body against itself. Eventually, the support around your teeth will start to disappear. As the disease progresses, your body continues to intentionally destroy its tissue to eliminate what it views as a dangerous bacterial invasion. Gum disease usually progresses slowly at first but can then become rapid. That’s why it’s important to catch and treat gum disease early before it can cause damage.
Stages and Symptoms of Periodontal Disease For Laser Gum Treatment
Recognizing the symptoms of each stage of gum disease can help you seek treatment early before the disease progresses.
Gingivitis
The very first stage of gum disease is known as gingivitis. During this stage, it is not yet serious or leads to tooth loss.
Symptoms include:
- Irritated, swollen, inflamed gums
- Red, bleeding gums, usually when brushing and flossing
- Space between gums and teeth grows deeper
- Asymptomatic – some patients don’t show any symptoms
Periodontitis
Without treatment of gingivitis, the gum disease will progress to periodontitis, the second stage of gum disease. During this stage, teeth might begin to feel loose as the infection spreads to the bone that supports the teeth.
Symptoms include:
- Gum recession
- Deep pockets between teeth
- Swelling and redness
- Increased bleeding
- Loose teeth
Advanced Periodontitis
Without treatment, gum disease will advance even further. To prevent the disease from spreading even further, oftentimes extractions become necessary.
Symptoms include:
- Deep pockets filled with pus
- Swollen gums around tooth roots
- Teeth sensitivity to temperature or pressure
- Loose teeth
Without treatment in this stage, tooth loss is inevitable. We highly encourage you to seek care from our Southlake, TX dental professionals.
How Gum Disease Affects Your Overall Health
Not only can gum disease affect your smile significantly, but it can also impact your overall health. The chronic infection in the gums doesn’t just stay there. Over time it will enter the bloodstream and travel to other areas of your body.
Some of the health risks associated with gum disease include:
- Heart disease
- Dementia
- Pneumonia
- Autoimmune disorders
- Breast, lung, colon, oral, and pancreatic cancer
Before you push off your upcoming dental exam, consider if these health risks are worth it.
Learn about Laser Gum Treatment in Southlake
There is good news – we can treat your gum disease with help from our dental laser. Laser gum treatment is fast, effective, and more comfortable than treatments in the past. To start, we use the dental laser to expose and remove infected gum tissue. After cleaning the area, we will remove hard deposits from your teeth and then reattach the gums back over the teeth. The treatment removes the infection and helps stimulate gum and bone regrowth.
If you suspect you have gum disease, please contact our dental office for laser gum treatment in Southlake, TX. Don’t let your oral and overall health decline when we offer a simple treatment that can help. Call us at (817) 587-4566 today to schedule your appointment for laser gum treatment.