The leading cause of gum disease is poor oral hygiene. If gum disease is left untreated, over time teeth become mobile and may even fall off on their own. The focus of treatment of gum disease is hygiene. Treatment includes, but not limited to, oral hygiene instructions, gum cleaning and medication. An annual gum cleaning by your dentist is important in maintaining gum health. Patients prone to gum disease may require a bi-annual cleaning.
Bacteria in plaque, a sticky, colorless film that constantly forms on your teeth is the primary cause gum disease. If plaque is not removed it can harden and turn into tartar (calculus). Additionally, dental plaque will continue to form on the tartar. Brushing or flossing cannot remove tartar; a dental professional will need to conduct a dental cleaning to remove it.
Other factors also contribute to gum diseases such as:
A professional cleaning by your dentist or dental hygienist is the only way to remove plaque that has built up and hardened into tartar. By scheduling regular checkups — twice a year — early stage gum disease can be treated before it leads to a much more serious condition
The goals of gum disease treatment are to promote reattachment of healthy gums to teeth; reduce swelling, the depth of pockets, and the risk of infection; and to stop disease progression. Treatment options depend on the stage of disease, how you may have responded to earlier treatments, and your overall health. Options range from nonsurgical therapies that control bacterial growth to surgery to restore supportive tissues.