Your gums play an essential role in the health of your smile. Unfortunately, gum disease affects nearly half of all Americans today. At Potomac Family Dental, we provide comprehensive periodontal care to protect your gums and support a healthy smile.

Gum disease, also called periodontal disease, can range from mild to severe. This progressive oral health condition can begin with gum inflammation as the result of bacteria and eventually lead to an ongoing infection around the tooth roots. If gum disease is left untreated, patients can eventually experience loose teeth and even tooth loss.

Fortunately, gum disease is both preventable and treatable. Dr. Uthman at Potomac Family Dental helps patients in the Woodbridge VA area to prevent gum disease with regular care and treat existing gum disease to reverse the condition.

Signs You Could Have Gum Disease

While early gum disease may not have obvious signs, you should look out for:

• Gum tissue that looks puffy or red
• Blood when brushing your teeth
• Increased tooth sensitivity
• Teeth that appear longer
• A bad taste in your mouth that won’t go away
• Chronic bad breath, even after brushing your teeth
• Sensitive or sore gum tissue

A simple exam with us at Potomac Family Dental can reveal if you have gum disease and how we can help.

Periodontal Treatments We Offer

Treatment for your gum disease will depend on how severe the condition is. For people who have gingivitis, an early stage of gum disease, a gentle, deep cleaning similar to your regular professional teeth cleaning may be enough to remove bacteria and reverse the condition.

For patients that have more severe gum disease, several deep cleanings may be necessary, but gum grafts may be necessary as well. These are for patients that have exposed tooth roots as a result of their gum disease, and the gum tissue may have recessed too far to grow back on its own.

Our comprehensive periodontal therapy can treat your gum disease and regular maintenance both at home and with our professionals in Woodbridge VA can prevent the disease from returning.

The Consequences of Ignoring Your Gum Health

Growing evidence is linking gum disease to numerous other health conditions, from heart disease to cancer and even premature birth or babies with a low birth weight. Researchers suspect that the bacteria involved in gum disease can end up in the bloodstream and potentially affect the rest of the body.

Gums not only help cover and protect our tooth roots, but provide crucial support for our teeth and help anchor them in our jaw. When gum disease progresses to the point that it damages this connective tissue, teeth can become loose and ultimately fall out without treatment.

Fortunately, keeping up with your gum health is simple—brushing, flossing and getting regular cleanings and checkups with your dentist can prevent gum disease!

Don’t Wait to Make an Appointment

Gum disease doesn’t go away on its own—it almost always gets worse as time goes on. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you’re concerned you could have gum disease. We’re a full-service practice and can handle all your periodontal needs right here in Woodbridge VA. Give us a call at (703) 348-8070.