Two stages, one important difference
Gingivitis is the early stage. Bacteria collect along the gumline, the tissue becomes inflamed, and gums bleed when you brush or floss. No lasting damage has been done at this point, and with thorough cleaning and better home care, gingivitis can typically be reversed.
Periodontitis is what comes next if it is left alone. The infection moves below the gumline, the attachment between gum and tooth breaks down, and pockets form that a toothbrush cannot reach. Bone begins to dissolve around the roots. Here is the part that matters: lost bone does not grow back on its own. Treatment can halt the process and stabilize what remains, which is why the timing of your first visit matters so much.
Dr. Valter began her career as a dental hygienist before becoming a dentist, so gum health is not an afterthought in this practice. It is where she started.
Signs worth taking seriously
Gum disease often causes no pain in its early stages, which is exactly why it goes unnoticed. Watch for:
- Pink in the sink when you brush or floss
- Gums that look puffy, red, or shiny rather than firm and pale
- Persistent bad breath or a bad taste that brushing does not fix
- Gums pulling away, making teeth look longer
- New sensitivity along the gumline
- Teeth that feel loose, or a bite that has started to feel different
- Food packing into spaces that never used to trap food
How we treat it
- Measure, do not guess. We chart pocket depths around every tooth, check where gums bleed, note recession, and take x-rays to see the bone level. This gives us a baseline to measure against later.
- Scaling and root planing. For pockets that have formed, we clean plaque and tartar from the root surfaces below the gumline and smooth those surfaces so tissue can reattach. The area is numbed, and treatment is usually split across two visits for comfort.
- Targeted adjuncts. Depending on your case, this may include laser therapy, antimicrobial rinses, or medication placed in a specific pocket.
- Reevaluation. We remeasure a few weeks later to see how the tissue responded, rather than assuming it worked.
- Periodontal maintenance. Once the infection is under control, cleanings usually shift to every three or four months, because the bacteria repopulate on a schedule and a six-month interval lets them get ahead.
Holding your ground at home
In-office treatment resets the situation. What you do daily determines whether it stays reset. Brush twice a day along the gumline at an angle rather than straight across, clean between the teeth every day with floss, interdental brushes, or a water flosser, and be consistent about it. Consistency beats intensity here, and scrubbing harder does more harm than good.
Some factors raise your risk regardless of technique. Smoking is the big one, and it also masks bleeding, which hides the problem while it progresses. Diabetes and gum disease worsen each other in both directions. Pregnancy hormones, certain medications, dry mouth, and grinding all play a role. Tell us about these so your plan accounts for them. If your case is advanced or does not respond as expected, we will refer you to a periodontist, and we would rather do that early than late.
Common questions
Can gum disease be reversed?
Gingivitis, the early stage, can usually be reversed with a professional cleaning and consistent home care. Periodontitis cannot be undone, because the bone that has been lost does not regenerate on its own. It can, however, be controlled and stabilized, which is the goal of treatment.
What is a deep cleaning and why do I need one?
A deep cleaning, or scaling and root planing, removes bacteria and hardened deposits from the root surfaces below the gumline, where a regular cleaning does not reach. It is recommended when pockets have formed and the infection has moved past the gum margin, not as an upsell on a routine visit. We will show you your pocket measurements so you can see the reasoning.
Does treatment hurt?
We numb the area before scaling and root planing, so the procedure itself should be comfortable. Gums are often tender for a day or two afterward and some cold sensitivity is common as inflammation resolves. Nitrous oxide sedation is available if you would like it.
Why do I need cleanings every three months now?
Because bacteria in periodontal pockets rebuild within a few months, and waiting six months gives them time to cause damage again. Periodontal maintenance at shorter intervals is what keeps treated gum disease stable. Once things stay healthy, we can revisit the interval.
My gums bleed but they do not hurt. Is that a problem?
Yes, it usually is. Healthy gums do not bleed when you brush or floss, and bleeding is one of the earliest reliable signs of inflammation. Because gum disease often causes no discomfort until it is advanced, waiting for pain to show up is a poor strategy.
Is gum disease connected to my overall health?
Research has linked periodontal disease with conditions including diabetes, heart disease, and complications in pregnancy. The relationships are complex and still being studied, so we avoid overstating them, but there is enough evidence that we ask about your medical history and coordinate with your physician when it is relevant.
