What is early stage gum disease, and can it be cured? Find out everything you need to know about gingivitis here, and how your Dentist in Columbia MD can help.

Did you know that more than 47% of adults in the United States have some degree of gum disease? The earliest stage of gum disease is known as gingivitis and it is actually one of the most common dental problems out there. When it first starts out, you might not even know you have gingivitis, but if left untreated, it can soon turn into a more serious problem that your dentist in Columbia, MD, will have to treat.



When gum disease gets serious, it turns into periodontitis which can leave your gums vulnerable to infection and can even lead to the loss of teeth. So, what can you do to catch gum disease when it's still in its early stages and how can you cure it before it gets worse? Keep reading below to learn more about treatments such as LANAP by Dr. Stewart and other options.

What Causes Gum Disease?

As mentioned before, many people have periodontal disease without even realizing it. That's because the first signs of gingivitis are very easy to miss. However, there are a few things that might make you more prone to developing gum disease. 

For example, if you don't brush your teeth or floss very often, there's a pretty good chance that you have gum disease. That's because gum disease is a type of inflammation and when you don't take good care of your oral health, you are creating a lot of inflammation around your gums and teeth. That's because of the bacteria that live in your mouth. 

These strains of bacteria love to eat any food particles, especially sugar, that stick to your teeth after you eat something. When the bacteria consume sugar, they produce acid as a byproduct. This acid is able to degrade your tooth enamel and create problems such as tooth decay and cavities. 

But the problems don't stop there. The same bacteria are able to produce plaque. Plaque is a sticky substance that covers your teeth. 

It is soft in its early stages and you can easily brush it away with a toothbrush. But if you let it sit on your teeth, it will eventually turn into tartar. Tartar is a very hard substance that forms between your teeth and around your gums. 

Because tartar is so hard, you won't be able to brush it away on your own. Instead, you will need the help of your dentist, in Columbia, MD, to scrape away the tartar. This is important because tartar is the main culprit when it comes to the development of gum disease. 



The reason is that tartar is highly inflammatory to the gums. If you leave tartar untreated, it will make your gums red and inflamed.

How to Treat Gum Disease

The reason your gums might bleed in response to flossing or brushing is that gingivitis makes your gums puffy and inflamed. LANAP is a great treatment option for this. LANAP is a laser-assisted new attachment procedure that can help you fight off gum disease and keep it away.

Dr. Daniel Stewart offers LANAP gum disease treatment which can destroy the bacteria causing your gum disease.

More than that, it uses an ultrasonic laser to remove tartar and repair receded gum tissue. LANAP treatment can even treat your teeth so that it will be difficult for tartar to return.

The treatment only takes about an hour and it is not painful. As for the recovery time, your gums should be mostly healed within 24 hours. 

Because LANAP uses a laser, you won't have to worry about any sutures or other painful surgery side effects. It is unique because it has the ability to remove disease gum tissue without damaging your healthy gum tissue. Because it uses a laser, there is no need for scalpels or other traditional devices that can cause you a lot of pain.



LANAP only causes very little discomfort. This is in contrast to traditional gum disease treatments which can be very painful. Even the recovery after LANAP is smooth because you won't have as much swelling or sensitivity. 

Visiting the Dentist for Gum Disease

While brushing and flossing your teeth at home are very important, you shouldn't ignore regular dental checkups and cleanings either, not to mention LANAP. You should go to get your teeth professionally cleaned one to two times every year. Following a good dental hygiene routine will prevent most problems, but your dentist will be able to give you good dental advice and be able to clean areas of your teeth that are hard to reach. 

You should visit your dentist if you have tartar and notice that your gums are inflamed. As mentioned before, you can't remove tartar on your own and it can cause inflammation in your gums. Your dentist has special tools that will make it easy to remove the tartar from your teeth. 

If you need further treatment, LANAP from Dr. Stewart may be the answer. As mentioned before, LANAP is a laser that is able to regenerate gum tissue. It is also minimally invasive, so you won't need to worry much about downtime.

You might not need this treatment if you only have early gum disease.

However, as your gum disease worsens, LANAP can help it from getting any worse. LANAP is also fast so you'll be able to get back to your life in no time.

Preventing Gum Disease With the Help of Your Dentist in Columbia, MD

While gum disease is a common issue, it can quickly become a serious problem if you don't take good care of your dental health. By brushing and flossing your teeth and taking visits to your dentist in Columbia, MD, your gums should be in great condition. 



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