Gum disease is one of the most prevalent preventable conditions on the planet. Research suggests that around 19% of the global adult population suffers from this disease, making a total of one billion people worldwide.
Here’s the good news: gum disease doesn’t have to be a long-lasting condition. In fact, this disease is almost as easy to reverse as it is to prevent, especially if you catch it early on. In some cases, you may even be able to treat your condition without any extra dental appointments!
That’s why knowing how to reverse gum disease is so important. Recognizing the warning signs, changing your habits, and getting help fast is often all it takes to prevent more invasive treatments and even future surgeries. If you’re ready to address this common condition, read on to learn more.
Know the Basics
It’s a no-brainer: the first step to treating your gum problem is knowing you have it. That’s why it’s crucial to understand the basics of gum disease and the red flags to watch for.
Root Cause of Gum Disease
The root cause of gum disease is plaque. This is a sticky film of bacteria that builds on the surface of your teeth.
Over time, this bacteria may begin to attack your teeth, causing cavities. When this bacteria attacks your gums, it can cause gum disease. Worse, plaque often settles under the gum line, making it difficult to remove without professional cleaning.
Gingivitis vs. Periodontitis
Gum disease has two different forms. When you hear people discussing the differences between gingivitis vs periodontitis, they’re comparing the mild and severe forms of this disease.
You will always get gingivitis first. If the condition worsens, you will develop periodontitis.
Symptoms to Watch For
With gingivitis, the first symptoms you’ll notice are redness and swelling around your gums. These areas may feel inflamed or irritated, and you might notice bleeding gums whenever you brush or floss your teeth. Some people also experience bad breath.
With periodontitis, these symptoms worsen. Swelling and inflammation can grow severe, and your gums might redden. Your gums will also bleed more easily, often with little contact, and your toothbrush might look red or pink after you’ve brushed.
As periodontitis gets more severe, your symptoms get worse. Chewing may become painful with your swollen gums. The gums may blacken and pull away from your teeth, causing your teeth to loosen or fall out. The infection and inflammation can even put a strain on your immune system, which can wreak havoc on your health.
Get an Early Diagnosis
If you notice any of the signs of gum disease, from swollen gums to bleeding, it’s important to see your dentist as soon as possible.
Getting an early diagnosis can help you start reversing your gum disease.
If you catch this condition while it’s still in the mildest stages, you’ll likely have a good prognosis. Most people can reverse gingivitis with proper oral care, and the treatments are often noninvasive.
If you wait until the gum disease progresses to periodontitis, it will be harder to reverse the damage. Your treatment may also be more invasive and costly.
This difficulty does not make periodontitis irreversible! As long as you choose a periodontist with the right training and experience, you can keep this disease from spreading and address any current oral damage.
Controlling your periodontitis treats the infection and protects your gums. However, it won’t fix the damage that has already occurred. Some patients may also need cosmetic treatments to address things like missing teeth or receding gums.
Brush and Floss Your Teeth
One of the best things you can do for gum disease is boost your oral hygiene.
Because bacteria is the root cause of gum disease, keeping it at bay can help you prevent the disease from worsening. Brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing once can remove this unwanted bacteria from your gums.
Some people get gum disease because they struggle to hold or use dental floss as instructed. If that’s the case, ask your dentist about alternative options. Water flossers, interdental brushes, and other solutions may help.
In addition, consider switching to an electric toothbrush. Studies suggest that they may be better than manual brushes at removing plaque.
Your dentist may also recommend mouthwash to help you remove bacteria. If so, rinse with this mouthwash before brushing. Doing so after can remove the fluoride from your toothpaste, which helps protect your tooth enamel.
Change Your Habits
Beyond basic gum care, a few lifestyle changes may keep bad bacteria away from your smile.
Alter Your Diet
Some foods are more likely to cause plaque buildup than others. Sugary and processed foods are among the most obvious to avoid, but there are a few others as well:
- Simple starches like bread and crackers
- Dried fruit
- Acidic foods and drinks
- Coffee
- Alcohol
While you’re trying to treat your gum disease, replace these foods with healthy alternatives that are rich in calcium, vitamin D, and magnesium. These nutrients are great for oral health.
Drink More Water
Getting eight glasses of water a day is great for your body as a whole, and it’s also ideal for your gum treatment. Drinking water helps wash away bacteria, especially right after a meal.
It also helps our mouths produce saliva, which plays a huge role in our oral health. Because saliva helps clear bacteria away from our teeth, it’s crucial to have enough of it!
Manage Underlying Conditions
Certain medical conditions can increase your risk of gum disease. Diabetes, for example, may increase the blood sugar levels in the mouth, creating an environment that promotes plaque.
Other risk factors may include obesity, stress, and underlying immunodeficiency. Certain medications that reduce saliva levels may also increase your risk.
Quit Smoking
Using tobacco products raises your risk for gum disease. This is because smoking weakens your immune system, making it easier for bacterial infection to take root. Once gingivitis has begun, continued smoking can make it harder for your gums to heal.
Plaque Removal
The first thing any dentist will do to treat gum disease is remove plaque.
Removing plaque from your teeth is the key to treating gum disease. With this substance gone, bacteria won’t have an easy way to attack your teeth and gums. Removing plaque also removes nooks and crannies where bacteria can hide.
Your dentist will also remove any buildup of tartar, which is the more durable substance that forms when plaque hardens on your teeth. Because you can’t remove tartar on your own at home, even with regular cleaning, your dentist is a crucial partner in your treatment plan!
Plaque and tartar removal should happen during your usual dental check-ups, whether you have gum disease or not. However, you should still mention your gum-related concerns when you see your dentist.
If you have mild gingivitis, plaque removal may be all you need to start reversing gum disease. By pairing this with the tips above, you’ll be better poised to keep bacteria at bay.
Tooth Scaling and Root Planing
In some cases, your dentist’s usual plaque removal treatments won’t be enough. This is often the case if your gingivitis has progressed to periodontitis.
Your dentist may recommend tooth scaling and root planing. These combined treatments help deep-clean your teeth and the area under your gums. Their goal is to remove heavy deposits of tartar, which can be hard to clear away during your usual cleanings.
Tooth scaling focuses on the tartar on the surface of your teeth. During this procedure, your dentist will use a special vibrating tool to chip large pieces of tartar off of your teeth. They’ll then use a manual scale to scrape away smaller pieces.
Root planing is a similar process, but it focuses on the area below your gum lines. After pulling your gum tissue away from the tooth root, your dentist will use the tools mentioned above to chip and scale tartar away.
Both dentists and periodontists can perform tooth scaling and root planing. Often, they’ll do both procedures during the same visit, but you may need more than one appointment if your tartar deposits are heavy enough.
In some cases, your dentist will also inject antibiotics into your gums while you’re in the chair. This can help treat any underlying infection.
Though this deep-cleaning process shouldn’t be painful, you may experience discomfort and tooth sensitivity after you leave the clinic. Your dentist may recommend painkillers to ease any soreness. These side effects should go away after a few days as your gums heal and reattach to their tooth roots.
Laser Periodontal Therapy
For trickier cases of gum disease, your dentist may recommend laser therapy.
This is not a standalone treatment. Instead, you’ll get it after you’ve gone through tooth scaling and root planing, which are the most effective treatments for early periodontal disease.
Laser therapy is minimally invasive and can help in several ways. It smooths any lingering rough spots on your teeth, and it can also remove any diseased gum tissue. Thanks to the sterilizing properties of lasers, this therapy can even kill germs and bacteria in the area.
Your dentist can perform laser therapy both above and below your gum pockets. The laser tool they’ll use will have a tiny fiber-optic laser tip. By aiming this light at your teeth and gums, they can clear away bacteria and damaged tissue.
The laser tool also stimulates blood clot formation. This negates the need for stitches, making recovery much easier.
After your treatment, you may notice soreness and sensitivity. Some patients also have slight swelling around the gum line. These symptoms should clear up within a few days.
Traditional Surgery
As a last resort, your perodontist may recommend surgery.
Periodontal surgery can help get rid of a serious infection in your gums. It can also be essential for preventing tooth loss or further bone or tissue damage.
You may be a good candidate for surgery if you have loose or missing teeth, severe inflammation, wide pockets around your gums, or receding gums.
No matter your condition, your dentist will likely recommend scaling and planing before your surgery. This cleaning process can pave the way for a more complex procedure.
The type of surgery you get will depend on your needs and the severity of your gum disease. Here are some of the most common types of surgery for periodontal disease:
Flap Surgery
If you have tartar deposits deep in the pockets of your gums, flap surgery can help remove them.
During the procedure, your surgeon will make small cuts in your gums, allowing them to pull the tissue away from your tooth root. They will then clean the tartar away, often via scaling and planing.
When they are finished, they will replace the gum tissue and stitch the flaps back in place.
Bone Grafting
Periodontal disease can sometimes damage the bone structure beneath your tooth root. When this happens, your surgeon may recommend replacing the weakened bone with a new graft of bone. This can keep you from losing the teeth above the bone.
Your surgeon may use a small piece of bone from elsewhere in your body. Otherwise, they may recommend an artificial or donated bone.
Guided Tissue Regeneration
With this treatment, your surgeon will insert a specialized, mesh-like material between your gum tissue and the weak or missing bone beneath. This keeps your gum tissue from growing into that area, giving your bone enough room to regrow.
Know How to Reverse Gum Disease
Gum disease is a common condition that’s easy to prevent and treat, but it can also spiral out of control fast. If you’ve been struggling with your oral hygiene for a while, reach out to an expert right away. In addition to the self-care tips above, their recommendations can help you get rid of bad bacteria while protecting your smile.
We hope this post answered any questions you had on how to reverse gum disease! If you enjoyed it, don’t forget to check out our other for additional tips and tricks.
