Gum Disease is a result of gum infection. Gums are the supporting & surrounding tissues that hold up our teeth strongly. It is also called periodontitis. It starts with plaque accumulation which is due to the bacterial growth on the teeth surface. Untreated infection can lead to serious conditions of gum destruction, which can cause tooth loosening or tooth loss. The redness, swelling & bleeding in your gums with bad breath visualise the initial stage of Gum Disease. Let’s see about the facts for the healing and treatment duration for Gum Disease as per dental professionals.
The Early Stage: Gingivitis
Gingivitis is the earlier stage of Gum Disease in which your gums are swollen up with redness. In this phase you get plaque formation on your teeth & bleeding comes out of brushing your teeth. Gingivitis can be treated quickly to stop your gum problems.
Advanced Stage: Periodontitis
The condition of Periodontitis comes when you leave Gingivitis untreated. The tissue and underlying bone that support the teeth are therefore removed. Although Gum Disease is now irreversible, dental procedures may stop its advancement. Periodontitis requires a long time to heal the infected gum parts. It includes the following treatments:
Non-Surgical Treatments
To treat the infected gums; Scaling and Root planing are the non-surgical treatment plans. The plaque & tartar are removed from the upper & lower gum line by the scaling process. Root planning flattens the rough surface of teeth by removing microorganisms from the dental roots. By stopping further damage, these procedures enable the gums to reconnect to the tooth. This process takes 2-4 weeks for gums to heal.
Surgical Treatments
Flap surgery or soft tissue grafts are the surgical treatments for advanced cases of periodontitis. These operations try to replace damaged tissue and target deeper infection areas. The surgical treatments take a longer time to heal, it can be approximately 4-6 weeks.
Factors Affecting Healing Time
There are several factors on which your gum healing time is dependent:
- Stage of Gum Disease
- Treatment Type
- Oral Hygiene
- Consistency of Dental Visits
When Should You Expect Results?
With careful treatment, gingivitis can be treated in weeks. However, periodontitis takes longer and may require numerous treatments and maintenance visits. Initial gum healing may take 2-6 weeks, depending on the treatment, but long-term gum health requires continued maintenance.
Your visit to your dentist can treat your Gum Disease early with proper instructions. The high risk of periodontitis can lead you to diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. By its treatment, you may be able to solve it.
Conclusion
Gum Disease is a severe disease as it is related to our teeth & oral care. It can be treated at its early stage with gingivitis. But the advanced stage of periodontitis can take you to the surgical process, & this will take a long time to heal up. You should prevent deterioration by brushing your teeth properly. Along with that, you should use an antibacterial mouthwash to keep away the bacteria. Consult your dentist for the best gum healthcare to get a beautiful & confident smile.