Periodontal disease (periodontitis) is an advanced type of gum disease. While early-stage periodontal disease can be reversed in some instances, advanced periodontal disease may not be. Symptoms of advanced periodontitis may include bleeding, inflamed and sore gums, a bad taste in your mouth, tooth shifting, bone loss, and dental pain. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk for advanced gum disease. Here are some preventative interventions and periodontal disease treatment options to consider. 

Preventative Interventions

The most important thing you can do to lower your risk for periodontitis is to maintain a strict regimen of brushing your teeth and flossing. A meticulous oral care routine helps remove plaque from your teeth and gum line before it has a chance to harden into tartar (calculus).

Once the plaque turns into calculus, your risk for periodontal disease rises. To augment the benefits of brushing and flossing regularly, your dentist may recommend the use of a special antibacterial rinse to decrease oral bacteria. In addition to your at-home oral hygiene routine, making sure that you get regular professional teeth cleanings and examinations will also help prevent periodontitis. Regular dental examinations can help ensure that your dentist catches early-stage gum disease before it progresses to periodontitis. 

Root Planing And Scaling Procedure

Periodontal disease can cause your gums to separate from your teeth. When this happens, gingival pockets can form, which can trap food and bacteria. Your dentist can perform a tooth scaling and planing procedure to help the gums reattach themselves to your teeth. During this procedure, the dentist cleans your teeth and their roots so that plaque, calculus, and bacteria do not interfere with the reattachment process. The scaling and root planing procedure can take multiple dental appointments, but usually not more than a couple.

After your procedure, the dentist may prescribe antibiotics or an antimicrobial mouthwash to help reduce the small risk of post-procedure infections. If you have jawbone destruction as a result of severe periodontitis, your family dentist may refer you to a specialist known as a periodontist. A periodontist is a dentist who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of gum disease.

If you have any signs or symptoms of periodontitis, make an appointment with your dentist. When gum disease is diagnosed and treated early on, it may be less likely to progress to periodontal disease. Treatment may also lower your risk for gum infections, tooth decay, bone destruction, and tooth loss.