1700 Eagle Harbor PKWY East, Orange Park, FL 32003
Get Directions >If you notice your gums are bleeding and inflamed, you may have gum disease. There are varying stages of gum disease that range from treatable at home to requiring professional intervention to put to rest any aggravating symptoms. If you are unsure if your bleeding gums are due to gum disease, always visit your local dentist for an evaluation to be sure.
Once any other possible causes of gum bleeding are ruled out, a dentist will help find a treatment plan that works best for you.
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Comprehensive Gum Treatment Solutions
It’s not too late to get your oral health back on track following the discovery of gum disease. Our expert team of dentists (and hygienists) can help fix your current situation and provide ongoing support to ensure it won’t happen again.
What Is Gum Disease?
Gum disease, or periodontal disease, is an infection of the gum tissues that keep our teeth secure. Oftentimes, the disease results from poor oral hygiene over the years such as a lack of brushing and flossing the teeth. Poor hygiene then leads to a buildup of plaque bacteria around the gums and can slowly lead to oral decay.
What Is Gingivitis?
There’s often some confusion over the difference between gingivitis and gum disease. Gingivitis and gum disease are the same condition in different stages. Gingivitis occurs first and then, if left untreated, progresses into gum disease.
What Are the Symptoms of Gingivitis?
It’s important to look for the signs of gingivitis to prevent gum disease from developing. The sooner the condition is discovered, the sooner you can begin to treat the symptoms and change your oral health habits.
The symptoms of gingivitis can include:
What to look out for
What Are the Symptoms of Gum Disease?
Gum disease can be different severities and have different symptoms based on your specific situation. Look out for these issues to see if you should consult a dentist about gum disease.
Swollen or Tender Gums
If your gums feel swollen or tender to the touch, this could be a sign of gum disease. Healthy gums normally are unnoticeable throughout daily life, and it shouldn’t feel tender or painful to eat, drink, talk, or do any other daily activities.
Bleeding While Brushing/Flossing
Bleeding while brushing or flossing is usually a key indicator that someone may have gum disease. However, bleeding of the gums can still occur without gum disease, and it could simply be a sign of light inflammation or gingivitis. Either way, it acts as a warning sign that the teeth and gums are not being cleaned properly.
Receding Gums
When the gums start to pull away from the teeth and expose the roots of the tooth cavity, this is called receding gums. Having receding gums is an important symptom to check for if you suspect gum disease is the culprit of your inflammation.
Loose or Separating Teeth
Loose teeth are normal for children growing their adult teeth, however, it is not healthy for adults to have loose teeth. Loose or separating teeth signify an underlying issue such as gum disease.
Sores in Your Mouth
Sores in the mouth can be an indicator that bacteria growth is not under control. However, keep in mind that sores in the mouth may indicate another virus or a simple canker sore. Always have a professional check the sore to help guide the next steps.
Consistent Bad Breath
Bad breath can happen to anyone every now and then, but if you consistently find yourself with bad breath or a metallic taste in your mouth, it’s not a good sign. Bad breath can be a common symptom of gum or periodontal disease.
What Causes Gum Disease?
The buildup of plaque from poor oral hygiene practices can lead to gum disease. While gum disease is reversible, it could become a permanent problem for your oral health if not treated right away.
It’s not too late to get your oral health back on track following the discovery of gum disease. Our expert team of dentists (and hygienists) can help fix your current situation and provide ongoing support to ensure it won’t happen again.
How We Treat Gum Disease
Our expert dentists and hygienists will be able to help your specific situation with the following series of steps.
STEP 1:
Initial Assessment
Our doctors and hygienists will assess your situation and decide which treatment is right for you.
STEP 2:
Cleaning & Treatment
Based on your assessment, we’ll conduct your treatment at another appointment. This typically includes a deep cleaning.
STEP 3:
Second Assessment
A few weeks following your treatment, we’ll reasess your situation to ensure the treatment turned out as well as we originally hoped.
STEP 4:
Rountine Checkups
Depending on your specific situation, we may ask you to come in every 3-4 months instead of the traditional 6 month routines.
What Are Other Gum Disease Treatments?
You can take many different actions to address gum disease. These are the most common treatments.
Root Planting and Scaling
Scaling and root planting is another way of describing a deep dental cleaning. It’s a non-invasive treatment option for gum disease that clears the buildup of plaque and tartar from the teeth and gums.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics could be a take-home option your dentist recommends. Antibiotics can stop the bacteria from spreading in the gums and reduce inflammation, leaving room for the mouth to heal.
Bone or Gum Grafting
Bone and gum grafting is when a tool is placed around an existing tooth for added support around the gums. This may not necessarily treat the root cause of gum disease, but it can provide relief for those suffering from severe tooth loosening or inflammation.
Laser Periodontal Therapy
In laser therapy for periodontal or gum disease, a tiny laser is moved around the gums to kill unhealthy bacteria. This treatment option is a less invasive procedure compared to surgery.
Pocket Reduction Surgery
Pocket reduction surgery (or flap surgery) is a procedure that involves a dentist making incisions along the gum line to clean the root surfaces before re-positioning them in the mouth. Surgery is typically only provided in severe cases after other treatment options have been exhausted.
Routine Dental Cleaning
A routine dental cleaning can act as a preventative treatment for gum disease. Having the teeth cleaned thoroughly to remove the buildup of plaque over time can gradually reduce the risk of disease progression.
What Should I Do if I Have Gum Disease?
While some cases of gum disease can be fixed by changing some at-home behaviors, sometimes you may need to seek professional help.
Consult With a Dentist
When in doubt, always visit a dentist for a professional diagnosis. A dentist can provide you with individual support and create a treatment plan that best works for your unique case.
While your minor gum bleeding may not seem like an emergency, having regular dental appointments and cleanings will avoid the progression of gum disease or another serious illness.
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Our Doctors
Meet our Family of Dentists
Dr. Standish has been serving Clay County patients at Eagle Harbor Dental for over 40 years. His daughters Dr. Kelly & Dr. Erin joined the practice and they’ve been creating beautiful smiles as a family ever since. With extensive educations and memberships, our dentists are the best that Fleming Island has to offer.
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