Keep Your Teeth by Treating Gum Disease Early
You spit after brushing and see pink in the sink. Maybe your gums look puffy, or a tooth feels a little looser than it used to. Gum disease rarely hurts at first, so small changes like these are often the only warning you get. Our Farmington dentists and hygienists treat gum disease at every stage, from early gingivitis to deep cleanings and laser care.
The stage you're in shapes what treatment can do. Gingivitis can be reversed with a professional cleaning and better brushing and flossing. Periodontitis can't be reversed, but treatment can slow it down and help you keep your teeth. Gum care is part of the general dentistry our office offers to children and adults.
Call (505) 327-4863 to schedule your gum disease treatment consultation. We welcome new patients!
Signs Your Gums Need a Checkup
Early gum disease rarely hurts, so it's worth a visit when you notice any of these changes:
- Gums that bleed during brushing or flossing
- Red, swollen, or tender gums
- Bad breath or a bad taste that won't go away
- Gums pulling away from your teeth, so teeth look longer
- Loose or sensitive teeth, or new gaps between them
- Pain when you chew, or a change in how your teeth fit together
Gingivitis or Periodontitis?
Gum disease is common. In national survey data, about four in 10 U.S. adults 30 and older had some level of periodontitis, and the CDC notes it can turn serious before you notice symptoms.
It begins with plaque, the sticky film bacteria form on your teeth every day. If brushing and flossing don't clear it away, plaque hardens into tartar, and a toothbrush can't remove tartar. Bacteria then spread below the gumline and form pockets between your gums and teeth. Diabetes, some medicines, and hormone changes such as pregnancy or menopause can raise your risk.
Smoking raises it most. In the same CDC survey data, about 62% of adult smokers 30 and older had periodontitis. The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research also says tobacco can slow healing and make gum treatment less successful, so quitting helps your gums recover.
Regular dental cleanings and exams remove tartar before it does damage.
Comparing the Two Stages
| Stage | Gingivitis | Periodontitis |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Inflamed gums | Infection that destroys gum tissue and bone |
| Signs | Red, puffy gums that bleed easily | Pockets, receding gums, loose teeth |
| Can it be reversed? | Yes | No, but it can be slowed and managed |
| Usual treatment | Professional cleaning and better home care | Deep cleaning, sometimes laser care, then maintenance visits |
What Your Gum Measurements Mean
At a gum checkup, we measure the space between each tooth and the gum with a thin probe marked in millimeters. The numbers show how deep any pockets have become:
- Three millimeters or less: Healthy gums with no pockets.
- Four to five millimeters: Pockets that usually mean periodontitis has started.
- Six millimeters or more: Deep pockets, often with bone loss around the roots.
X-rays then show how much bone sits around each tooth. Together, the measurements and X-rays tell us which stage you're in and whether a deep cleaning makes sense.
Why Patients Trust Our Hygiene Team
Gum treatment depends on the people doing the cleaning as much as the dentist who checks your gums.
- Hygienists who focus on gums: Preventive and gum care make up much of our hygienists' work. You can meet the hygiene team before your first visit.
- The same team at every step: The hygienists who find the problem also handle your deep cleaning and your maintenance visits, so the people checking your gums know their history.
- Numbers you can follow: We go over your pocket measurements with you at each visit, so you can see whether your gums are getting healthier.
Deep Cleaning, Laser Care, and Follow-Up Visits with One Farmington Team
Gum disease care often gets split up. A routine cleaning finds the problem, the deep cleaning happens later or at another office, and the follow-up visits slip once the bleeding stops. That last step matters, because gum disease can come back as soon as two to four months after treatment.
Each step below happens in our office.
- Deep cleaning: Scaling removes plaque, tartar, and bacteria from above and below the gumline. Root planing then smooths the tooth roots so your gums can heal and bacteria have fewer places to hide. We use numbing as needed, so you feel pressure rather than pain.
- Laser care: After a cleaning, our dentists may use a soft tissue laser on inflamed gum tissue and any plaque or tartar left behind. It treats the infected areas and leaves healthy tissue alone, and some laser treatments don't need numbing at all.
- Maintenance visits: You come back for exams and cleanings on a schedule we set for your gums, so a flare-up is caught while it's still small.
When a Periodontist May Be Needed
Advanced gum disease sometimes needs surgery, such as a gum graft to cover exposed roots or flap surgery to clean deep pockets. If your gums need that kind of care, we may refer you to a periodontist. Periodontists have extra training in treating the gums and the bone under them.
After Your Deep Cleaning: The First Few Weeks
A deep cleaning needs no stitches, and you can usually get back to your day once you leave.
- The first few hours: Wait for the numbness to wear off before you eat, and skip very hot food and drinks so you don't burn your mouth.
- Days one to three: Your gums may feel sore and bleed a little. Eat soft foods, avoid hard, crunchy, or spicy ones, and use a soft brush with light pressure. Wait about a day before you floss again.
- The first few weeks: Teeth can feel sensitive to hot and cold for a while. A toothpaste for sensitive teeth usually helps.
- Weeks four to six: Full gum healing can take four to six weeks. Your gums tighten as the swelling goes down, so your teeth may look a little longer. That's a sign of healing, not new gum loss.
Call us if bleeding won't stop, the pain gets worse, or you have a fever.
Frequently Asked Questions
Gum disease isn't contagious the way a cold is, but the bacteria behind it can pass through saliva. The American Academy of Periodontology says the disease comes from your body's reaction to bacteria under the gums. It suggests not sharing eating utensils or toothbrushes with a family member who has gum disease.
Gum disease hasn't been proven to cause heart disease, but the two are linked. The American Academy of Periodontology says studies show gum disease may raise the risk of heart disease, likely through inflammation. Tell us about any heart condition before treatment, since some patients need antibiotics first.
Mouthwash can help, but it can't treat gum disease on its own. The American Dental Association says some rinses help reduce plaque and gingivitis when you also brush and floss every day. A rinse can't reach the tartar in deep pockets, so periodontitis still needs a professional cleaning. If you need a stronger rinse, a dentist can prescribe one.
Gum disease treatment cost depends on how far the disease has spread and how many areas of your mouth need care. A deep cleaning is priced by quadrant, or one quarter of your mouth, so a cleaning for two quadrants costs less than one for all four. Laser care and maintenance visits are billed separately. Dental insurance may cover part of the treatment when it's medically necessary, and we can go over your costs and payment options before you start.
Book Your Gum Disease Treatment Appointment in Farmington
Tartar doesn't come off with a toothbrush, and gum disease is easier to manage the earlier it's treated. Patients come to us for gum care from Aztec, Bloomfield, Kirtland, and Shiprock.
Call our dentists in Farmington at (505) 327-4863 or request an appointment online to schedule your gum disease treatment consultation at Desert Hills Dental Care.