Gum Disease Treatment in Encinitas
Stop bleeding gums and protect your teeth.
Gum disease treatment at McElroy Smiles in Encinitas stops bleeding, inflamed gums before they cost you teeth. Caught early as gingivitis, it is often reversible; in its advanced form it is managed to protect your health. We tailor treatment to your stage, from a thorough cleaning to ongoing periodontal care.
What are the signs of gum disease?
Watch for gums that bleed when you brush or floss, tenderness or redness, persistent bad breath, gums pulling away from the teeth, and loose teeth. Gum disease is common and often painless early on, which is why these signs matter. Catching it early makes treatment simpler and protects your teeth.
What are the stages?
Gingivitis is the early, reversible stage, usually cleared with improved hygiene and professional cleanings. Periodontitis is the advanced stage, which cannot be cured but can be controlled to prevent further bone loss and tooth loss. We will tell you exactly where you stand and what it takes to stabilize it.
How is gum disease treated?
Treatment depends on the stage. Early gum disease often responds to a thorough cleaning and better home care. More advanced cases may need deep cleaning below the gumline and a regular periodontal maintenance schedule that we set based on your needs, so it stays stable over time.
Early gum disease, gingivitis, can often be reversed with professional cleaning and good home care. Once it advances to periodontitis, it cannot be cured, but it can be controlled to stop further damage. The sooner it is treated, the more we can do.
Most gum treatment is comfortable. Deep cleaning below the gumline is done with numbing, and for anxious patients we offer sedation. Any tenderness afterward is mild and short-lived, and the payoff is healthier gums and teeth you keep.
Patients managing gum disease usually need cleanings more often than twice a year to keep it stable. We set a schedule based on your case so your gums stay healthy and you keep your teeth.
Untreated gum disease can lead to gum recession, bone loss, loose teeth, and eventually tooth loss. Early treatment helps protect both your oral health and your smile.
