Stop Bleeding Gums and Protect Your Natural Teeth
Bleeding gums, persistent bad breath and gum recession may be warning signs of gum disease. Although symptoms can seem minor at first, untreated periodontal disease can damage the tissues and bone supporting your teeth.
At Modern Family Dentistry of Oak Hill, Dr. Benjamin Sharfae, DDS, and Dr. Maggie Sharfae, DDS, provide personalized gum disease treatment in Austin, TX. Our dentists evaluate your gum health, identify signs of periodontal disease and recommend treatment to help control inflammation, protect supporting tissues and preserve your natural teeth.
Whether you have recently noticed bleeding when brushing or have been diagnosed with periodontitis, our team can help you understand your condition and treatment options.
Concerned about bleeding or receding gums? Call 512-301-9002 today to schedule a periodontal evaluation at our Austin dental office.
What Is Gum Disease?
Gum disease, also called periodontal disease, is an inflammatory condition affecting the gums and supporting structures around your teeth. It develops when bacteria in dental plaque trigger an inflammatory response.
If plaque is not removed effectively, it can harden into tartar, which requires professional removal.
There are two main forms of gum disease:
Gingivitis
Gingivitis is inflammation of the gums without the loss of supporting bone associated with periodontitis.
Common signs include redness, swelling and bleeding during brushing or flossing.
Gingivitis is generally reversible with professional care and improved daily oral hygiene.
Periodontitis
Periodontitis is a more advanced condition involving inflammation and destruction of the tissues and bone that support your teeth.
As the disease progresses, periodontal pockets may deepen, gums may recede and teeth can become loose.
Treatment can help control the disease and reduce further damage, but bone and attachment loss caused by periodontitis generally does not reverse without additional specialized procedures.
Early diagnosis and ongoing maintenance are important for protecting your remaining periodontal support.
Signs and Symptoms of Gum Disease
Periodontal disease can develop without significant pain, which is why regular dental examinations are important.
Common warning signs include:
- Bleeding gums: Bleeding when brushing, flossing or eating
- Swollen or tender gums: Redness, puffiness or discomfort along the gumline
- Persistent bad breath: Ongoing unpleasant breath or taste associated with bacterial buildup
- Gum recession: Gums pulling away from teeth, making them appear longer
- Tooth sensitivity: Discomfort when exposed root surfaces become sensitive
- Loose or shifting teeth: Changes caused by loss of supporting periodontal tissues
- Pain when chewing: Discomfort associated with advanced periodontal problems
- Changes in your bite: Teeth no longer fitting together as they previously did
Bleeding gums can have causes other than periodontal disease, but persistent bleeding should not be ignored.
If you notice these symptoms, schedule a dental evaluation to identify the cause.
What Causes Gum Disease?
Bacterial plaque is the primary factor involved in gum disease. However, several conditions and habits can increase your risk or influence disease progression.
These include:
- Inadequate plaque removal through daily oral hygiene
- Smoking and other tobacco use
- Diabetes, particularly when blood sugar is poorly controlled
- Family history and genetic susceptibility
- Certain medications that affect gum tissues or saliva
- Hormonal changes that influence gum inflammation
- Existing periodontal disease and inconsistent maintenance
Gum disease is not simply a consequence of aging. Patients of different ages can develop periodontal problems, and individual risk factors affect how the condition progresses.
How Our Dentists Diagnose Periodontal Disease
Effective gum disease treatment begins with determining the extent of inflammation and whether the supporting tissues around your teeth have been damaged.
During your periodontal evaluation, our dentists may:
- Review your medical and dental history
- Examine your gums for inflammation, bleeding and recession
- Measure periodontal pocket depths around your teeth
- Evaluate attachment loss and tooth mobility
- Check for plaque and tartar buildup
- Recommend dental X-rays to assess supporting bone levels
- Identify factors that may increase your periodontal risk
These findings help determine whether you have gingivitis, periodontitis or another condition affecting your gums.
For patients with periodontitis, the evaluation also helps establish disease severity and guide an appropriate treatment and maintenance plan.
Gum Disease Treatment Options in Austin, TX
Treatment depends on the diagnosis, severity of disease and condition of your supporting tissues.
Our goal is to control bacterial buildup and inflammation while helping you maintain healthy, functional teeth.
Professional Dental Cleanings
For patients with gingivitis or plaque-related inflammation without significant periodontal attachment loss, professional cleaning and improved home care may help restore gum health.
Professional cleanings remove plaque and tartar that cannot be eliminated through brushing and flossing alone.
Our team also provides guidance on effective oral hygiene techniques.
Scaling and Root Planing
Scaling and root planing, often called deep cleaning, is a nonsurgical treatment commonly recommended for periodontitis.
The procedure removes plaque and hardened deposits from tooth surfaces beneath the gumline.
Root planing may also be performed to remove contaminated deposits and smooth affected root surfaces where appropriate.
Reducing bacterial deposits allows the gum tissues to heal and may help decrease periodontal pocket depths and inflammation.
Antimicrobial Treatment When Appropriate
Certain patients may benefit from antimicrobial treatment as an addition to mechanical periodontal therapy.
These treatments are selected according to the clinical findings and are not necessary for every patient.
Antibiotics do not replace professional cleaning and effective daily plaque control.
Periodontal Maintenance
After active periodontal treatment, ongoing maintenance is essential for managing periodontitis.
Maintenance visits may include monitoring pocket depths, evaluating inflammation, removing bacterial deposits and reviewing oral hygiene.
Patients with a history of periodontitis often require a more frequent maintenance schedule than patients receiving routine preventive cleanings.
Specialist Referral for Advanced Periodontal Disease
Some patients require treatment beyond nonsurgical periodontal care.
If significant bone loss, deep periodontal pockets or other complex concerns are present, our dentists may recommend evaluation by a periodontist.
Specialized treatment may include periodontal surgery or regenerative procedures when appropriate.
What to Expect During Scaling and Root Planing
Scaling and root planing is designed to remove deposits from below the gumline and help control periodontal inflammation.
Depending on the extent of treatment, the procedure may be completed in one or more appointments.
1. Evaluation and Treatment Planning
Your dentist reviews your periodontal measurements, X-rays and clinical findings to determine which areas require treatment.
2. Deep Cleaning Below the Gumline
Local anesthesia may be used to minimize discomfort.
Specialized dental instruments remove plaque and tartar from the affected tooth and root surfaces.
3. Healing and Reassessment
Some temporary tenderness, bleeding or tooth sensitivity may occur after treatment.
Your gums are given time to heal before periodontal measurements are reassessed.
4. Ongoing Maintenance
If periodontal inflammation improves, our team recommends an appropriate maintenance schedule.
Additional treatment or specialist referral may be necessary if deep pockets or other signs of active disease remain.
Can Gum Disease Be Reversed?
The answer depends on the stage of disease.
Gingivitis is generally reversible. When inflammation is caused by plaque buildup and there is no periodontal attachment loss, professional cleaning and effective home care can help restore healthy gum tissues.
Periodontitis is not fully reversible. Treatment can reduce inflammation, control infection-related bacterial deposits and help prevent additional tissue destruction, but lost supporting bone and attachment do not automatically regenerate.
Some specialized periodontal procedures may restore selected areas of lost support, depending on the condition.
Early treatment provides a better opportunity to protect the tissues supporting your teeth.
How to Prevent Gum Disease From Returning
Managing periodontal disease requires consistent home care and professional monitoring.
To support healthy gums:
- Brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste.
- Clean between your teeth every day using floss or recommended interdental brushes.
- Attend dental examinations and periodontal maintenance visits as directed.
- Avoid smoking and tobacco products.
- Manage medical conditions, including diabetes, with your healthcare team.
- Follow personalized oral hygiene recommendations.
- Contact your dentist if bleeding, swelling or other symptoms return.
Patients who have experienced periodontitis remain at risk for recurrence even after successful treatment.
Learn more about our preventive dentistry services and the role of regular care in maintaining oral health.
Why Choose Our Austin Dentists for Gum Disease Treatment?
Periodontal care requires careful evaluation, appropriate treatment and consistent monitoring over time.
At Modern Family Dentistry of Oak Hill, Dr. Benjamin Sharfae and Dr. Maggie Sharfae combine decades of general dental experience with an emphasis on prevention and preserving natural teeth.
Dr. Maggie Sharfae, DDS
Dr. Maggie Sharfae graduated from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Dental School in 1999.
She completed an Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency at the VA Medical Center in Indianapolis from 1999 to 2000.
She has practiced dentistry since 1999, providing comprehensive care that includes periodontal evaluation, preventive dentistry and restorative treatment.
She also taught clinical dentistry at Indiana University School of Dentistry for two years.
Dr. Benjamin Sharfae, DDS
Dr. Benjamin Sharfae graduated from Indiana University School of Dentistry in 2001 and has practiced dentistry since that year.
His experience includes comprehensive general dentistry, periodontal evaluation, restorative care and full-mouth rehabilitation.
He also taught preclinical and clinical dentistry at Indiana University School of Dentistry for two years.
Both dentists are members of the American Dental Association, Texas Dental Association and Capital Area Dental Society.
Personalized Care and Long-Term Gum Health
Our privately owned practice emphasizes continuity of care with familiar dentists and long-term team members.
We take time to explain periodontal findings, discuss treatment recommendations and help patients understand how daily habits affect their gum health.
Our goal is to provide appropriate care and ongoing guidance to help protect your natural teeth.
Gum Disease Treatment in Oak Hill and Southwest Austin
Modern Family Dentistry of Oak Hill provides gum disease evaluations and periodontal care for patients in Austin, Oak Hill, Southwest Austin and surrounding communities.
Whether you have noticed bleeding gums, persistent bad breath, gum recession or have been told you need a deep cleaning, our team can evaluate your condition and explain your options.
We focus on early detection, individualized treatment and ongoing maintenance to help patients maintain healthier gums.
Frequently Asked Questions About Gum Disease Treatment
What is the best treatment for gum disease?
The best treatment depends on whether you have gingivitis or periodontitis and how advanced the condition is. Professional cleanings, scaling and root planing, improved home care and periodontal maintenance are common approaches. Advanced cases may require specialist treatment.
Can bleeding gums be a sign of gum disease?
Yes. Bleeding during brushing or flossing is a common sign of gum inflammation. Although other factors can cause bleeding, persistent symptoms should be evaluated by a dentist.
Can gum disease be cured?
Gingivitis is generally reversible with professional care and improved oral hygiene. Periodontitis is a chronic condition that can often be controlled, but lost supporting tissues do not automatically regenerate. Ongoing maintenance helps reduce the risk of further damage.
What is scaling and root planing?
Scaling and root planing is a nonsurgical deep-cleaning procedure that removes plaque and tartar from beneath the gumline. It is commonly used to treat periodontitis and reduce inflammation around affected teeth.
Does deep cleaning for gum disease hurt?
Local anesthesia may be used to minimize discomfort during scaling and root planing. Temporary tenderness or sensitivity can occur afterward. Our team will explain what to expect and provide appropriate aftercare instructions.
How often do I need periodontal maintenance?
Many patients with a history of periodontitis benefit from maintenance visits approximately every three to four months, although the appropriate schedule varies. Your dentist will recommend an interval based on your periodontal health and risk factors.
Can gum disease cause tooth loss?
Yes. Advanced periodontitis can destroy the bone and connective tissues supporting teeth, eventually causing mobility or tooth loss. Early diagnosis, appropriate treatment and ongoing maintenance can help reduce the risk.
How much does gum disease treatment cost in Austin, TX?
Costs depend on the severity of the condition, treatment required and number of areas involved. Dental insurance may cover certain periodontal procedures depending on your plan. Our team can discuss recommended treatment and associated costs after your evaluation.
Where can I get gum disease treatment in Oak Hill, Austin?
Modern Family Dentistry of Oak Hill provides periodontal evaluations and gum disease treatment for patients in Oak Hill, Southwest Austin and surrounding communities. Call our office to schedule an examination if you have bleeding gums, recession or other periodontal concerns.
Schedule Your Gum Disease Evaluation in Austin
Bleeding gums, gum recession and persistent bad breath may be signs of periodontal disease. Identifying the cause early can help protect the tissues and bone supporting your natural teeth.
At Modern Family Dentistry of Oak Hill, Dr. Benjamin Sharfae and Dr. Maggie Sharfae provide personalized periodontal care focused on diagnosis, appropriate treatment and long-term maintenance.
Concerned about your gum health? Call 512-301-9002 today to schedule a gum disease evaluation in Austin, Texas.