Gum disease, also known as periodontitis, is a serious infection that damages the soft tissue around your teeth. If you don't receive treatment, it can lead to loose teeth. It can also destroy the bone that surrounds your teeth. Don't ignore the signs of gum disease. Visit Personal Choice Dental in Old Bridge where Dr. Anthony Vitale, Dr. Jeffrey Band, and Dr. Elliot Nash can help you prevent and treat gum disease as well as other dental issues. Here are some gum disease symptoms that you should never ignore:

• Your gums bleed when you brush your teeth or after you brush your teeth
• Your teeth are receding. In other words, your teeth appear longer than they used to be.
• You have constant bad breath or a nasty taste in your mouth
• Your teeth are loose or they're shifting in your mouth
• Your upper and lower teeth don't fit together the way they used to
• Your partial dentures don't fit anymore
• Your teeth are sensitive to hot and cold beverages

Gum Disease Treatment

Once you are diagnosed with gum disease, your dentist will establish a treatment plan. The goal is to help your gums return to health so they can reattach to the teeth. Treatment varies according to each patient's unique situation. Our dentists will decide if you require nonsurgical or surgical treatment.

Nonsurgical treatment involves dental cleaning to remove the plaque and tartar that's attached to your teeth. The dentist may also treat you with scaling and root planing. During this nonsurgical procedure, the dentist uses tools to scrape away plaque and tartar away from your teeth and gums. The dentist will also use tools to smooth the rough spots on your teeth. Those rough spots provide a sanctuary for bacteria. Once they are smoothed away, your gums can reattach themselves to clean teeth.

Surgical treatments from our Old Bridge office include soft tissue grafts, bone grafts, bone surgery, and guided tissue regeneration. When the tissue surrounding the teeth is unhealthy, surgical treatments may be necessary.

Prevent or Treat Gum Disease

Gum disease is a serious dental issue that should be treated right away. If you think that you may have gum disease and you live in Old Bridge, visit us at Personal Choice Dental. Our dentists can develop a treatment plan to help you prevent gum disease. If you are already showing the signs of gum disease, they can also provide the treatment you need to get your teeth back to health. Call us today at (732) 727-1211.