As one of the most common oral health conditions among people within the UK, it’s an important question to ask, particularly if you’ve already noticed the early warning signs of gum disease.

Gum disease (sometimes known as periodontal disease) covers a wide spectrum, from gingivitis through to advanced periodontitis. This means that understanding the causes and stages of the condition is essential in determining its reversibility.

Join us as we explain the nuances of the condition, highlighting practical steps for reversing the early stages of gum disease should you notice the symptoms.

Answering the Big Question: Is Gum Disease Reversible?

The question ‘Is gum disease reversible?’ can be difficult to answer, as it largely depends on the stage of the condition you currently have. Otherwise known as periodontal disease, there are several phases of gum disease, with certain aspects being more reversible than others.

The four main stages of gum disease are:

Gingivitis – Gingivitis is the initial phase of gum disease – it’s reversible if treated properly. One of the main symptoms of gingivitis is bleeding gums when you brush or floss your teeth.

Mild periodontitis – With mild periodontitis, the bacteria starts seeping into the bone underneath your gums. You may develop receding gums at this stage – this condition involves pockets being created around your gums as they pull away from your teeth, enabling bacteria and plaque to hide in these pockets when brushing or flossing.

Moderate periodontitis – If mild periodontitis is left untreated, it will turn into moderate periodontitis. The bacteria will start to erode the ligaments, bones and soft tissues that hold your teeth in place. You may start to feel severe pain and develop infections at this stage.

Advanced periodontitis – Advanced periodontitis is the final stage of gum disease. As the condition gets worse, bone loss will increase, which may lead to wobbly teeth and eventual tooth loss.

You can reverse gum disease if you’re within the gingivitis stage by practising recommended oral hygiene techniques, such as regular brushing and flossing. However, periodontitis is not always reversible – particularly in the later phases of the condition. If bone loss has already occurred, it could be too late for gum disease reversal, although dentist treatments can be carried out to mitigate the damage.

Recognising the Early Signs of Gum Disease

Spotting the early stages of gum disease is crucial to preserving your oral health, enabling you to find adequate treatment before it develops further. Reversing early-stage gum disease is possible in some cases, but the longer you leave it, the less likely it is that you’ll be able to prevent advanced periodontal disease.

Every situation is different, but the early signs of gum disease usually include these symptoms:

Bleeding gums

Swollen and tender gums with a red or purple colour

Bad breath (halitosis)

A build-up of dental plaque on your teeth

The good news is that it is possible to reverse gingivitis. Advanced gum disease is not reversible, but it can be stabilised with adequate treatment. This means that it is crucial that you speak to your dentist as soon as you notice any of the symptoms displayed above.

Advanced periodontal disease can cause further complications, such as:

Receding gums

Pain and soreness – particularly when chewing or speaking

An unpleasant taste in the mouth

Bone loss

Tooth loss

If you encounter any of these symptoms, it’s important to visit your dentist for immediate treatment. If your dentist fails to notice the signs of gingivitis and the disease progresses further, you may be able to hire a dental malpractice lawyer and open a dental negligence claim. Alternatively, dental complaints can also be made directly to your dental practice.

If you’d like to make a claim against your dentist, please complete our enquiry form and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

Effective Practices for Healthy Gums

If you’re concerned about gum disease in the future, or if you’ve noticed some of the symptoms of the condition, there are several steps you can take to mitigate the ailment – particularly during the early stages.

It’s important to practise proper oral hygiene techniques, such as brushing and flossing your teeth twice a day. Your dentist can also carry out professional teeth cleanings to remove bacteria and dental plaque from your mouth.

Other effective home remedies for preventing gum disease include:

Purchase fluoride toothpaste – Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral found in water, which can help to prevent tooth decay. In some areas, it’s automatically added to drinking water, but you can also purchase fluoride toothpaste. The NHS recommends using a toothpaste that contains between 1,350 and 1,500 ppm of fluoride.

Use mouthwash – Antimicrobial and antibacterial mouthwash can help to reduce the bacteria in your mouth. It’s recommended that you wait 30 minutes after brushing your teeth to use mouthwash – otherwise, it will wash away the concentrated fluoride left on your teeth by the toothpaste.

Make lifestyle changes – Another important practice to consider is making lifestyle changes. Maintaining a balanced diet can significantly improve gum health, as can quitting smoking. Smoking is a major risk factor for gum disease and can diminish the effectiveness of treatment. Staying hydrated will also maintain saliva production, which can wash away food particles and bacteria.

Have regular dental check-ups – Visiting your dentist on a regular basis for check-ups will enable them to monitor gum health and diagnose any oral health issues as they appear.

Use interdental brushes and water flossing tools – Traditional flossing methods are not always enough to reach the gum pockets which can sometimes be created by gum disease. Interdental brushes and water-flossing tools can be effective for hard-to-reach areas.

Even if you haven’t noticed any of the symptoms from the previous section, it’s still important that you brush and floss your teeth regularly, as this should help prevent other issues from developing. If in doubt about which cleaning products to use, your dentist should be able to advise you accordingly.

Our Top Strategies for Treating Gum Disease

If you’ve been diagnosed with gum disease or you suspect you might have the condition, there are several steps you can take to mitigate the damage. Mild gum disease is easier to treat than the advanced stages of the illness, but in all cases, we’d first advise speaking to your dentist.

If you have gingivitis or early stage gum disease, following proper oral hygiene practices (e.g. regular brushing, flossing and professional dental cleanings) are recommended to treat the condition and prevent it from developing further. With gingivitis, it might actually be possible to eliminate the inflammation and restore full gum health, reversing the condition. However, if your gum disease is left untreated, gingivitis can progress to periodontitis, the more advanced stage of the condition that can cause irreversible damage to the bone and tissues supporting the teeth.

With advanced gum disease, its progression can be managed and controlled with comprehensive dental care, even if it cannot be reversed. Your dentist should be able to advise you of potential treatments (such as scaling and root planing), which may help you stabilise the disease and prevent further damage. We also recommend making changes to your lifestyle and oral hygiene routine – your dentist should also be able to advise you further about this.

Get in Touch with the Dental Negligence Experts

We hope that we’ve answered the question ‘Is gum disease reversible?’ sufficiently, enabling you to make the right decision for your oral health needs. The early stages of the condition can be reversible if treated correctly, so it’s important to speak to your dentist if you start to notice the early warning signs of gum disease.

If you’ve already had treatment and you think you may have suffered from dental negligence, we may be able to help you. At the Dental Law Partnership, we’re an experienced team of solicitors, with many of our employees also having experience within the dental profession.

If you’d like to get started with your claim, we’ll be happy to help – please get in touch here.