Gum Disease Treatment in Vancouver, WA

Gum Disease Treatment Near You

When adults lose teeth during adulthood, you may think they lose them due to trauma or tooth decay. While adults do lose teeth due to tooth decay and gum disease, the most common reason any adult loses a tooth is due to gum disease.

Periodontal disease is the most common noninfectious disease of adulthood, and it can cause severe and irreversible damage to your gums as well as your overall health.

At Thurston Oaks Dental, we have various gum disease treatments available in Vancouver, WA. Call (360) 514-9212 to schedule your appointment today!

What Is Gum Disease?

Gum disease, sometimes called periodontal disease, is an infection of gum tissue caused by harmful bacteria in your mouth. In your mouth, you have two types of bacteria that can be present -  harmful and helpful bacteria.

The harmful bacteria can infect your gums. Gum disease will eventually cause inflammation, irritation of your gums, and both gum tissue loss as well as tooth loss. Usually, the causes of gum disease can be traced to poor dental health, chronic disease, age, dry mouth, and tobacco use.

There are three stages of gum disease. Gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease.

During the gingivitis stage, you may notice that your gums look red or discolored. They may also be swollen and you might find blood on your toothbrush or in your sink after you brush or floss.

Dr. Farmer and our team can cure stage one of gum disease with regular cleanings and good oral hygiene, offering gum disease treatment near you.

Both the second and third stages of gum disease are called periodontitis. During stages two and three, your gums have a severe infection.

You may notice that your gum disease symptoms now include constant bad breath, increased tooth decay, and a bad taste in your mouth. Other signs of gum disease are that your teeth may look longer or larger, or you may notice your gum tissue has spaces near your teeth.

These signs happen because when you enter the periodontitis stages, your gum tissue begins to separate from your teeth, creating pockets or spaces. These pockets can fill with infection and make your gum disease in Vancouver worse.

Preventing Gum Disease

If these symptoms sound like something you would want to avoid, there are ways you can prevent gum disease.

First, if you use tobacco, you should think about quitting as using tobacco can stain your teeth and gums, impede natural healing in your mouth, and decrease saliva production, all of which make gum disease treatment in Vancouver more likely.

Also, if you want to prevent gum disease, be sure to eat a healthy diet and minimize your sugar intake. Excess sugar and carbohydrates can lead to an explosion of bacteria in your mouth, which increases your chances of cavities or gum disease.

Be sure to brush and floss each day, and look into using toothpaste that explicitly fights gum disease. Our dentist in Vancouver or dental hygienist will help you come up with a good plan for managing your dental health! 

Treatment for Gum Disease in Vancouver, WA

Your treatment for gum disease depends mainly on how severe your periodontal disease is. If you have the beginning stages of gum disease or gingivitis, you will need an ally who can check your gums each time you visit our office.

Our dental team can cure gum disease if we catch it early enough. For example, Dr. Farmer can work with you to make sure you are using a good brushing technique and give you tips at your appointment.

However, if you have advanced gum disease, you will need additional treatment. Due to having an active infection, you will need more intensive gum disease treatment near you on your gums.

This means that you will need to have your gums deep cleaned between three and four times yearly to ensure they continue to stay healthy and fight the bacteria.

Visit Thurston Oaks Dental for Gum Disease Treatment

Need help determining whether or not you have gum disease? Need a dentist who specializes in deep gum cleaning and the prevention of gum disease in Vancouver? Visit us today!