Gum Disease Treatment
Healthy gums hold your teeth in place. When gums get sick, teeth can loosen and fall out. Gum disease is common, and the early stage is easy to miss. The good news is that we can treat it, and the sooner we start, the better. At Family First Dental in Rexburg, we help you keep your gums and your teeth.
Dr. Craig Stout has cared for gums for 20 years. He checks yours at every visit and shows you what he finds on the screen in the room.
What gum disease looks like
The early stage is called gingivitis. Your gums may bleed when you brush. They can look red or puffy. At this point the damage can still be reversed.
If it is not treated, it can turn into periodontitis. The gums pull away from the teeth and form pockets. Bacteria settle in, and the bone under your teeth starts to break down. This stage cannot be undone, but it can be controlled.
Watch for these signs:
- Gums that bleed when you brush or floss.
- Red, swollen, or tender gums.
- Bad breath that will not go away.
- Gums that pull back from your teeth.
- Teeth that feel loose or shift.
What raises your risk
Some things make gum disease more likely. Smoking is a big one. So are diabetes, certain medicines, and a family history of gum trouble. Pregnancy can also make gums more tender. If any of these apply to you, tell us so we can watch your gums closely.
Why it matters
Gum disease is the top cause of tooth loss in adults. Losing bone around your teeth is hard to undo.
Your gums affect the rest of you too. Research has linked gum disease to heart disease and diabetes. Keeping your gums healthy is part of keeping your whole body healthy.
How we treat it
For early gum disease, a regular cleaning and better home care are often enough. We remove the buildup and show you how to keep it away.
For deeper problems, we do a deep cleaning called scaling and root planing. We clean below the gum line and smooth the tooth roots. This helps the gums heal and tighten back around the teeth. We numb the area so you stay comfortable, and we can split it into more than one visit if that is easier.
Gum disease does not fully go away, but it can be controlled. After treatment, Dr. Stout sets a cleaning schedule that fits you. For many gum patients that means a visit every three to four months.
How to protect your gums
Brush twice a day and floss once a day. Flossing reaches the spots a brush cannot.
Keep up the checkups your dentist recommends. We catch small changes before they turn serious.
Do not ignore bleeding gums. Bleeding is a signal, not something to brush past.
See us before it spreads
Gum disease is easier to treat early. If your gums bleed or feel sore, call Family First Dental at (208) 400-9946 or book online. We will check your gums and build a plan that fits.
What a deep cleaning is like
We start by numbing the area so you stay comfortable. Then we clean the plaque and tartar from below the gum line, where a brush cannot reach. We smooth the tooth roots so the gums can reattach. Larger cases are split into two visits, one side at a time. Most people feel fine the same day.
Keeping it under control
After a deep cleaning, you come in for maintenance visits. These are cleanings aimed at gum patients, done more often than a standard cleaning. They keep the pockets clean and stop the disease from moving forward. Dr. Stout sets the timing based on how your gums respond.
Can early gum disease be reversed
Yes. Gingivitis, the early stage, can heal with a professional cleaning and better habits at home. That is why we treat bleeding gums as an early warning, not a small thing. Catching it here saves you from deeper treatment later.
Gum disease and bad breath
Bad breath that sticks around can be a sign of gum trouble. The bacteria below the gum line give off an odor that brushing alone will not fix. Treating the gum disease gets at the real cause, not just the smell.
Home care that works
Brushing matters, but how you brush matters more. Use a soft brush and angle it toward the gum line. Floss once a day to clean between teeth. If flossing is hard, a water flosser can help. Ask us to show you the method that fits your mouth.
Gum health and diabetes
Gum disease and diabetes feed each other. High blood sugar makes gum infections worse, and gum infections make blood sugar harder to control. If you have diabetes, steady gum care helps both. Let us know, and we will keep a closer eye on your gums.
Signs your treatment is working
After care starts, look for less bleeding when you brush. Your gums should feel firmer and look less red. Bad breath tends to fade. The gum pockets we measure at your visits should get shallower over time. These are the signs that the plan is working, and keeping every follow-up visit is how you hold on to that progress.
Ready To Schedule Your Appointment?
Our friendly team at Family First Dental is here to help! Contact our office today and let us take care of your dental health.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can gum disease be cured?
Early gum disease (gingivitis) can be reversed. Later stages cannot be undone, but they can be controlled with treatment and regular visits.
What is scaling and root planing?
It is a deep cleaning below the gum line. We numb the area, remove buildup, and smooth the roots so the gums can heal.
How often should I come in?
For gum patients, often every three to four months. Dr. Stout sets the schedule based on how your gums respond.