Patients in Houston ask, “Is there a dentist near me who provides treatment for gum disease?”

Caring for your mouth, teeth, and gums is critical to your oral and overall health. When it is neglected, oral cancer, cavities, or gum disease can develop. Therefore, dentists stress the importance of regular dental check-ups every six months, brushing, and flossing. Patients in Houston ask, “Is there a dentist near me who provides treatment for gum disease?” They can turn to Dr. Monti Harpalani, a hometown native, at Vivid Dental.

Dr. Harpalani has seen the effects of gum disease. Therefore, he believes patient education is critical in combating the condition. It starts with understanding the stages of the disease.

Stages of gum disease

The initial stage of gum disease is gingivitis. When bacteria in plaque builds up, gums can become inflamed and easily bleed when brushing or flossing. It is critical to seek treatment immediately after noticing these signs. Otherwise, the infection can advance to the next stage, periodontitis. In the second stage, the gum separates from the teeth. When pockets of space form, an infection may develop. As bacteria spread, bone and connective tissue breaks down. Over time, teeth can become loose and fall out.

Causes of gum disease

Gum disease is the primary cause of tooth loss in adults. Hormonal changes, illnesses, certain medication, tobacco use, genetics, and poor oral hygiene habits are risk factors. Stress can also lead to the disease.

When to seek treatment

Symptoms of gum disease include:

• Bleeding gums during and after brushing teeth
• Swollen, red, or tender gums
• Receding gums
• Bad breath
• Loose teeth
• Changes when biting

If you have noticed these warning signs, seek treatment immediately. The earliest stage of gum disease is reversible. Depending on the level of severity, there are treatment options from professional teeth cleaning to scaling and root planing. We remove plaque and tartar when deep cleaning, or scaling, the gum line. For planning, we smooth areas of the tooth root.

Stop gum disease in its tracks with proper care. Call 281-809-4902 today to schedule a consultation appointment with Dr. Harpalani.