How to Stop Gum Disease Before It Costs You a Tooth
Bleeding gums are not something you should have to live with.
If your gums bleed when you brush, look swollen, or seem to be pulling away from your teeth, there may be an infection underneath the gumline.
The good news? Gum disease can be treated and managed.
At Pomona Smile Studio, we help patients find the cause of their gum problems and create a treatment plan to protect their gums, bone, and teeth.
What Is a Gum Infection?
Gum disease starts when bacteria and plaque build up around your teeth.
At first, your gums may become red, swollen, or bleed easily. This early stage is called gingivitis.
If the bacteria move deeper underneath the gums, spaces called periodontal pockets can form around your teeth.
Over time, the infection can damage the gum tissue and bone that help hold your teeth in place.
This more advanced form of gum disease is called periodontitis.
7 Signs Your Gums May Need Help
You may have gum disease even if your teeth do not hurt.
Watch for:
- Bleeding when brushing or flossing
- Red or swollen gums
- Bad breath that keeps coming back
- Gums pulling away from your teeth
- Teeth looking longer
- Tender gums or pain when chewing
- Loose or shifting teeth
No pain does not always mean everything is healthy. Gum disease can become more serious before you notice major symptoms.
Why Can’t I Fix It With Regular Brushing?
Brushing and flossing are extremely important, but they cannot remove hardened tartar.
Once bacteria and tartar are trapped deep underneath the gums, your toothbrush cannot reach everything.
That’s why some patients need more than a regular dental cleaning.
What Is Gum Infection Therapy?
Your treatment depends on how advanced the infection is.
For many patients with periodontitis, treatment begins with a deep cleaning called scaling and root planing (SRP).
Scaling
We carefully remove plaque and hardened tartar from above and below the gumline.
Root Planing
The roots of the teeth are cleaned and smoothed to remove bacterial buildup and create a healthier surface for the gums.
Think of it as cleaning the areas underneath your gums that your toothbrush cannot reach.
Regular Cleaning vs. Deep Cleaning
They are not the same treatment.
A regular cleaning helps maintain a healthy mouth and removes buildup around the teeth and gumline.
A deep cleaning treats areas where gum disease has created deeper pockets and bacteria or tartar have collected underneath the gums.
We examine your gums and measure the spaces around your teeth to determine what type of cleaning you actually need.
What Happens After Gum Infection Treatment?
Treating the infection is the first step.
Keeping it under control is the next step.
After treatment, we check how your gums are healing and may recommend periodontal maintenance visits more often than a standard six-month cleaning.
Why?
Because once periodontitis has caused damage, it can be managed, but it needs continued care to help prevent it from becoming active again.
Don’t Wait for a Tooth to Become Loose
This is the part we want patients to understand:
Gum disease doesn’t only affect your gums.
Advanced periodontitis can destroy the bone and tissue supporting your teeth. As that support is lost, teeth can loosen and may eventually be lost.
Getting your gums checked early gives us a better opportunity to protect what you have.
Gum Infection Treatment in Pomona, CA
If your gums bleed, look swollen, have started pulling away from your teeth, or you have been told you need a deep cleaning, don’t ignore it because it doesn’t hurt.
At Pomona Smile Studio, we’ll examine your gums, explain what we see in simple terms, and help you understand your treatment options.
Ready to Find Out What’s Going On With Your Gums?
Schedule a gum health evaluation with Pomona Smile Studio.
Call: 909-620-6066
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