If you start developing some early signs of gum disease, like sore gums and bleeding after brushing, using an antiseptic mouthwash a few times a day will usually take care of it. But what if it doesn't? It's important not to just ignore your gum disease, since doing so may lead to more serious infections and tooth loss later on. Instead, you should see your dentist, who may recommend one or more of the following treatments.

Antibiotics

Gum disease is actually an infection of your gums with oral bacteria. Thus, antibiotics, which kill off bacteria, are an effective treatment. Depending on the severity of your gum disease, your dentist may recommend a topical antibiotic gel or an oral antibiotic. In either case, make sure you take or use the antibiotic for the full recommended time period. Otherwise, the infection might just come back even worse a few days later.

Dental Scaling

Part of the problem might be that the bacteria that are causing your gum disease have worked their way deep down between your teeth and gums, where antiseptic rinses and tooth brushing simply cannot reach them. Luckily, your dentist can clean these areas using a special procedure known as dental scaling. Your mouth will be numbed for this procedure, since it can be pretty uncomfortable. Then, either a laser or a small, carefully designed scaling tool will be used to clean the surfaces of your teeth that are hidden beneath your gums. When the anesthetic wears off, you may feel some soreness and might experience some minor bleeding, but your gum disease should dissipate as long as you keep up with a good brushing and flossing routine.

Pocket Reduction Surgery

If your gum disease has been allowed to go on for some time, there may pockets in your gum tissue where bacteria can collect, perpetuating the gum disease. In this case, it will be nearly impossible to cure your gum disease without getting rid of your pockets. Your dentist can make this correction with a simple pocket reduction surgery. The excess gum tissue will be removed with a laser or scalpel, and then the incisions will be stitched up. This will be done under local anesthetic, so you won't feel a thing. However, you'll want to stick to soft foods for a few days afterwards until your gums heal.

Many times, you will require some combination of the above procedures in order to cure your gum disease. For example, your dentist may perform a scaling procedure and then prescribe you a topical antibiotic gel. The exact treatment will depend on the extend of your gum disease and your dentist's preferences.

For more information, talk to a business like Pike Dentistry.