Gum Disease - Luxe Smiles in Palmetto Bay, FL

What is Periodontal Disease?

Periodontal disease is the technical name for what most people call gum disease. It’s a disease caused by bacteria buildup on and around your teeth and gums. The bacteria eats away at your tooth enamel and infiltrates your gums to cause an infection. People will experience sensitivity, pain, and, often, tooth decay.

When you forget to brush your teeth, a sticky substance called plaque starts to build up. Plaque houses bacteria and eventually turns into tartar. Over time this irritates your gums, and the bacteria enter your bloodstream. The bacteria erode your gums and teeth. Eventually, your teeth will become loose and fall out completely.

If you’re experiencing gum disease, call (305) 253-7670 right away to save your teeth and gums.

Symptoms

Gum disease symptoms are many;

Bleeding gums during or after brushing your teeth
Red, swollen gums
Constant bad breath
A poor taste in your mouth that nothing seems to fix
Receding gums
Loose or shifting teeth
Pain and sensitivity
Tooth decay

What Causes Gum Disease?

The most common cause is poor oral hygiene. When you consistently forget to brush and floss, you open yourself up to disease. However, there are other causes, too.

Tobacco Use: Tobacco affects your immune system and makes you less likely to fight off bacteria without your dentist’s intervention.
Hormonal Changes: Hormonal changes such as pregnancy can also weaken your immune system and make this more likely.
Illness: As with tobacco and hormonal changes, illness can impair your body’s ability to fend off bacteria.
Certain Medications: Medications can affect your production of saliva, making the mouth dry and a great place for breeding bacteria.
Family History: You may be more susceptible if you have a family history of it.
Poor Oral Hygiene Habits: This is the main culprit of gum disease. Keep your teeth, mouth, and gums clean.
Teeth Clenching and Grinding: Clenching and grinding your teeth can cause your gums to recede, exposing your root and allowing bacteria where it’s not supposed to live.

Gum Disease Complications

Gum disease is known to cause complications other than tooth loss. Once it enters your bloodstream, it can travel to any part of your body.

Rheumatoid arthritis
Alzheimer’s disease
Cardiovascular diseases
Pregnancy complications
Cancer
Inflammatory bowel disease

Gum Disease Treatment in Palmetto Bay

The frontline treatment is a thorough cleaning that goes below the gumline. This is called scaling and root planing. Dr. Naranjo and Dr. Testar will remove tartar from below the gum line and then smooth out the tooth root so it can easily reattach to your gums. This type of treatment might sound daunting, but it’s one of the best ways to remove gum disease and save your natural teeth. We take extra care to provide comfort for our patients undergoing root scaling and planing. You’ll be relaxed and sedated during the treatment. We recommend over-the-counter pain medication to deal with any residual discomfort after the procedure.

We may also prescribe medication to help clear it up.