All About the Two Stages of Gum Disease and the Treatment Needed

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To help you know a little more about gum disease so you know what your smile is up against when it comes to the worst dental problems in the world, our Lisa Halliday, DMD & Tom Halliday, DDS dental team would like to teach you about the two stages of the disease, which are:

Gingivitis

Gingivitis is the minor form of gum disease. It develops when you fail to remove the plaque on your smile on a regular basis. When this happens, the plaque irritates your gums, making them red and swollen and even making them bleed easily. Oftentimes there is little to no discomfort at this stage. Fortunately, a professional dental cleaning and improved oral hygiene can treat this stage of the disease.

Periodontitis

If gingivitis is left untreated, it can advance to the more serious form of gum disease, which is known as periodontitis. This develops when the plaque turns into a bacterial-rich substance known as tartar. The tartar severely irritates the gums and makes them pull away from the teeth, creating pockets. Then, the pockets fill with infection and the tartar spreads underneath the gumline. As time passes, the tartar destroys the underlying bone and tissues, causing loose and lost teeth. The only ways to treat this stage is to receive laser periodontal therapy, undergo scaling and root planing treatments, and take prescribed antibiotics.

Now that you know all there is to know about gum disease in Sonoma, California, it’s time to do all you can to prevent it. Because, as you can tell, gum disease is a serious and dangerous dental issue. To help you prevent it at all costs, our dental team encourages you to stay diligent in your oral hygiene routine and visit Dr. Lisa Halliday every six months for a routine cleaning and exam. If you do these things, you’ll be on the right track toward a strong and successful oral health.

For more information, please feel free to call our office at 707-996-6704 at your earliest convenience. Our dental team will be more than happy to help you in any way we can, and we look forward to hearing from you!