Nearly half of adults over age 30 show signs of gum disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Left unchecked, periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults — but it is largely preventable and highly manageable when identified early. At Davenport Dental Associates, we focus on protecting the tissues that support your teeth so you can keep a healthy, functional smile for years to come.
Gum disease is an inflammatory condition driven by bacteria that collect around the teeth and beneath the gumline. Plaque that remains on teeth hardens into tartar and creates an environment where bacteria flourish. The body’s immune response to these bacteria causes inflammation, and over time that inflammation can damage the soft tissues and bone that secure your teeth.
Because early stages of gum disease are often painless, many people are unaware a problem is developing. That’s why regular dental exams and professional cleanings are essential — they allow a clinician to identify trouble before significant tissue loss occurs and to intervene with treatments that restore health.
Preventing and controlling periodontal disease depends on a combination of effective home care, routine professional maintenance, and targeted treatment when necessary. Recognizing how the disease starts and progresses helps patients take informed steps to protect their oral health.
Gum disease can produce a variety of visible and felt changes in the mouth. Some signs are subtle at first, such as slight redness or occasional bleeding during brushing and flossing. Other symptoms are more obvious — persistent bad breath, gums that pull away from teeth, or a feeling that teeth have become loose.
Because symptoms can vary from person to person, it’s important to watch for any changes and to report them promptly to your dental team. Early detection makes treatment simpler and more predictable, reducing the chance of extensive procedures later on.
Below are common indicators that your periodontal tissues may be inflamed or infected:
Red, swollen, or tender gums
Bleeding when brushing or flossing
Gum recession with exposed root surfaces
Increased tooth sensitivity to hot or cold
Persistent bad breath or an unpleasant taste
Teeth that feel loose or shifting bite
New gaps forming between teeth or changes in denture fit
Any pus or discharge around teeth and gums
Pain when chewing or biting
Oral health is tightly connected to overall health. Chronic gum inflammation has been linked with conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory problems. While researchers continue to clarify these connections, the evidence shows that maintaining healthy periodontal tissues supports general well-being and can help reduce systemic inflammation.
For people with certain medical conditions, managing periodontal disease becomes even more important. Good periodontal care can make chronic medical conditions easier to manage and can improve quality of life by reducing pain, infection risk, and the likelihood of tooth loss.
Our approach is prevention-focused: we combine education, clinical assessment, and treatment planning to protect your gum health while supporting your overall health goals. Small, consistent steps at home and regular professional care go a long way toward keeping inflammation under control.
Gingivitis is the first stage of periodontal disease and is characterized primarily by reversible inflammation of the gum tissue. At this point, the underlying bone and connective tissues remain intact, and dedicated care can return the gums to a healthy state. That makes early identification and action especially valuable.
Treatment for gingivitis emphasizes thorough removal of plaque and tartar combined with improved daily hygiene. When patients commit to better brushing, flossing, and consistent professional cleanings, the signs of gingivitis often resolve and progression to deeper disease can be prevented.
Your dental team will evaluate gum health at routine visits and recommend personalized home-care strategies. With early attention, gingivitis is usually a manageable condition that rarely requires complex intervention.
When inflammation extends beyond the gums and begins to destroy the supportive bone and connective tissue, the condition is known as periodontitis. As pockets deepen and bone is lost, teeth become less stable and the risk of tooth loss increases. The goal of treatment at this stage is to arrest progression and preserve as much support as possible.
Periodontitis often requires a combination of therapies to control the bacterial infection, reduce pocket depth, and, when appropriate, encourage tissue regeneration. A tailored treatment plan takes into account the severity of disease, the presence of other health conditions, and the patient’s oral hygiene habits.
Even in moderate or advanced cases, modern periodontal care can significantly improve function and appearance. With the right clinical approach and ongoing maintenance, many patients can maintain their natural teeth and comfort for years to come.
Non-surgical care is the first line of defense when periodontal disease is detected early or when pocket depths remain manageable. Scaling and root planing — a careful cleaning of the tooth roots below the gumline — removes plaque and calculus and reduces bacterial load.
Adjunctive measures, such as localized antimicrobial treatments or short courses of systemic medication when indicated, can support healing. The emphasis is on restoring a clean root surface and enabling the gums to reattach more closely to the teeth, which reduces pocket depth and inflammation.
Success with conservative therapy depends on thorough professional care combined with improved oral hygiene at home and a maintenance schedule tailored to your risk level. For many patients this approach stabilizes disease and prevents the need for surgery.
When disease has created deep pockets or significant bone loss, surgical intervention may be recommended to gain access for thorough cleaning, to repair damaged structures, and to reduce pocket depth. Flap procedures allow clinicians to visualize and treat the root surfaces and underlying bone directly.
In addition to flap surgery, regenerative options such as bone grafting and soft-tissue grafts can help rebuild lost support and improve gum contours. These techniques aim to restore function and, when possible, recreate the architecture required to keep teeth stable.
Contemporary periodontal care also incorporates technologies such as laser-assisted therapy for select applications. While lasers are not a universal solution, they can be useful in reducing bacterial burden, treating peri-implant inflammation, or refining soft-tissue contours when clinically appropriate.
Managing gum disease is a team effort: your daily habits, routine professional care, and a customized treatment plan all play vital roles. Our clinical team focuses on identifying disease early, recommending the least invasive effective therapies, and supporting long-term maintenance.
At the office of Davenport Dental Associates, we tailor periodontal plans to each person's needs, combining careful assessment with proven techniques to control infection, restore tissue where possible, and preserve dental function. We welcome questions and aim to give patients clear guidance about options and next steps.
Summary: Periodontal disease is common but largely preventable and manageable. If you notice changes in your gums or if it has been some time since your last exam, contact us to learn more about how we can help protect your oral and overall health.
Most people don’t realize that periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss among adults. According to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of every two adults over the age of 30 in the United States has periodontal disease.
You may be surprised to learn that the human mouth is home to a wide variety of microbes. The fact is that over 700 different strains of bacteria have been detected in the oral cavity. Although some of these bacteria are beneficial, others are harmful to oral health. Without proper oral hygiene and routine dental care, these harmful bacteria can cause tooth decay and gum disease, compromising both your oral health and overall wellbeing.
In addition to inadequate oral hygiene and infrequent professional care, other factors, including smoking, genetic tendencies, and unchecked diabetes, can contribute to the escalation of periodontal disease.
Your gums and teeth have an interdependent relationship, which means healthy teeth depend on the support of healthy gums. Also, taking care of your smile does more than keep your teeth and gums in optimal condition; good oral health also supports systemic health. In addition to being the leading cause of tooth loss in adults, researchers are finding more and more links between periodontal disease and a number of medical problems, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, respiratory problems, and adverse pregnancy outcomes such as pre-term and low birth-weight babies.
If you notice that your gums are bleeding with the slightest pressure while brushing or flossing, it’s a sign of gingivitis. Although gingivitis is the earliest stage of gum disease, it can easily be reversed with deeper cleanings as well as an improved regimen of oral hygiene at home.
In the absence of professional treatment and better home care, gingivitis progresses to the next stage, which is known as periodontitis. In this stage, the connective tissue and bone that hold the teeth in place begin to break down with an increase in pocketing between the teeth and bone, gum recession, and bone loss. Without proper treatment by your dentist, periodontitis will progress from a mild to moderate loss of supporting tissue to the destruction of the bone around the teeth.
Although gingivitis can often be reversed with improved oral hygiene and professional cleanings, as periodontal disease advances, more extensive procedures are required to halt its progression. Based on a complete assessment of your periodontal health and a review of possible contributing factors, our office will recommend the best options in care. Treatment for periodontitis may include a series of deeper cleanings known as root planing and scaling, surgical procedures to reduce pocket depth, bone or tissue grafts, laser procedures, or antimicrobial medications.
The cost of care depends on the type of procedures required to restore your periodontal health. If you have dental insurance, plans often cover treatment to prevent gum disease as well as many procedures to treat the various stages of gum disease. Our goal is to help patients restore and maintain good oral health. We do all we can to help you begin care without additional stress or delay. Our business office works with you to maximize your benefits and provide easier, more convenient payment options.
By seeing our office regularly for care and doing your best to eat a healthy diet and practice good oral hygiene, you can keep your smile in tip-top shape as well as protect your overall wellbeing.
At the office of Davenport Dental Associates, we provide a comprehensive range of services to address all your oral healthcare needs. You can rest assured that your smile is in the best of hands at our office. Our skilled and experienced team maintains a position at the forefront of advances in care and remains dedicated to providing the highest quality of skilled and compassionate treatment.
Our goal is to help every patient experience the benefits of good oral health and a beautiful smile. We value the trust you have placed in our office and strive to provide solutions that meet your dental needs and expectations of care.
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