Periodontal disease, often called gum disease, affects the soft tissues and bone that support your teeth. When a dentist suspects or diagnoses periodontal disease, care follows a structured plan: identify the stage and severity, reduce the bacterial load and inflammation, stop the disease from progressing, and equip you to maintain long-term gum health. If you’re wondering what dentists do if you have periodontal disease, they focus on stabilizing the condition and supporting daily habits that keep gums healthy. A well-managed periodontal foundation is essential for a confident smile and dependable bite, and understanding how a dentist treats gum disease can help you make informed decisions about your care.

Understanding Periodontal Disease

Periodontal disease is a chronic infection driven by harmful bacteria living in dental plaque. It typically starts as gingivitis, gum inflammation caused by plaque at the gumline, and can advance to periodontitis, where the ligament and bone that hold teeth in place are damaged. Left untreated, periodontitis can lead to gum recession, deep pockets around teeth, increased mobility, and ultimately tooth loss.

Healthy gums are critical for everyday function. They cushion and support your teeth, protect deeper tissues from bacteria, and contribute to comfortable chewing, clear speech, and an attractive smile. Persistent inflammation weakens this protective barrier, allows bacteria to invade, and jeopardizes the stability of your bite and any orthodontic outcomes. Because orthodontic tooth movement relies on healthy bone and gum tissues, periodontal stability is essential before starting braces or clear aligners.

Research has associated periodontal disease with broader health concerns, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and complications during pregnancy. While gum disease doesn’t directly cause these conditions, chronic oral inflammation can add to overall inflammatory load. Taking care of your periodontal health supports both your mouth and systemic well-being.

Signs, Symptoms, and Why It Happens

Periodontal disease can develop quietly, especially in its early stages. Common warning signs include gums that are red, swollen, or tender; bleeding when brushing or flossing; persistent bad breath; gum recession that makes teeth look longer; tooth sensitivity; and teeth that feel loose or shift position. Some people notice few symptoms even when disease is advanced, which is why regular dental exams are so important.

Multiple factors influence risk. The primary driver is plaque buildup, sticky bacterial film that hardens into tartar (calculus) if not removed. Tobacco use (including vaping), uncontrolled diabetes, family history, hormonal changes, certain medications that reduce saliva, teeth grinding or clenching (bruxism), and misaligned or crowded teeth that are harder to clean can all increase susceptibility. Orthodontic crowding, for example, creates niches where plaque accumulates unless oral hygiene is meticulous.

Lifestyle plays a significant role. A balanced diet with limited added sugars supports healthy oral tissues, while good hydration helps maintain saliva flow to neutralize acids and wash away debris. Avoiding tobacco, managing stress, exercising regularly, and prioritizing sleep can reduce inflammatory burden. Above all, consistent home care, brushing twice daily and cleaning between teeth, remains the cornerstone of preventing gum disease.

How Dentists Diagnose Periodontal Disease

Diagnosis begins with a thorough review of your medical and dental history, followed by a comprehensive gum evaluation. Your dentist looks for signs of inflammation, measures periodontal pocket depths, and assesses plaque and tartar accumulation. They may also document bleeding on probing, gum recession, and tooth mobility to determine the stage and grade of disease.

A key component is periodontal charting. Using a calibrated probe, the dentist measures the space between the tooth and gum in millimeters. Readings of 1–3 mm are generally healthy, while deeper pockets suggest disease activity. Areas that bleed easily during probing typically indicate active inflammation and a need for targeted treatment.

Dental X-rays, bitewing and periapical radiographs, provide a view of bone levels and hidden calculus deposits. Imaging helps confirm the presence and pattern of bone loss, reveals issues not visible during a visual exam, guides treatment planning, and serves as a baseline for tracking progress over time.

What Dentists Do to Treat Periodontal Disease

If you’ve ever asked, “what do dentists do if you have periodontal disease,” the answer starts with non-surgical therapy to control infection and quell inflammation. The primary approach is scaling and root planing (deep cleaning), which removes plaque and calculus from above and below the gumline and smooths root surfaces to encourage gum reattachment. Your dentist may recommend antimicrobial mouthrinses or place local antibiotics in persistent pockets to target bacteria more precisely. In specific cases, systemic antibiotics are prescribed based on your risk factors and bacterial profile, this is a key part of how a dentist treats gum disease in targeted situations.

If deep pockets or advanced disease persist after initial therapy, a referral to a periodontist for surgical options may be appropriate. Common procedures include flap surgery to access and clean deep areas, osseous surgery to reshape irregular bone, guided tissue regeneration and bone grafting to encourage regrowth, and soft tissue grafts to reduce recession or thicken thin gums. The goals of surgery are to reduce pocket depths, improve tissue architecture, stabilize teeth, and make daily hygiene more effective. Understanding how a dentist treats gum disease surgically can clarify expectations and outcomes.

Ongoing periodontal maintenance is essential once inflammation is controlled. Maintenance visits, often every 3–4 months, disrupt biofilm before it matures into a more destructive form, reinforce home-care techniques, and allow early detection of changes. Your dentist will tailor the interval based on disease severity, your response to therapy, and risk factors such as smoking or diabetes. These maintenance strategies are central to what dentists do if you have periodontal disease over the long term.

What to Expect: Recovery and Long-Term Outlook

After periodontal therapy, many patients notice less bleeding and tenderness, improved breath, and gums that feel firmer. Pocket depths often decrease as inflammation resolves and gum tissue tightens. Any discomfort from deep cleaning or surgery is typically manageable and short-lived. Your dentist will provide instructions for pain control, oral hygiene, and diet modifications during healing to help you recover smoothly.

Long-term success depends on several factors: how advanced the disease was at diagnosis, the consistency of plaque control at home, smoking status, diabetes management, bite forces from clenching or grinding, and adherence to maintenance visits. Early intervention and steady follow-through significantly improve the chances of stabilizing the condition and preserving your teeth.

Because periodontal disease is chronic, it requires lifelong attention. With regular maintenance and excellent daily hygiene, many patients keep their teeth and enjoy comfortable, healthy gums. If you’re considering orthodontic treatment, a stable periodontal foundation supports controlled tooth movement and helps your results last.

Preventing Periodontal Disease

Daily habits make the biggest difference. Brush twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush for two minutes, using a fluoride toothpaste to strengthen enamel. Clean between teeth every day with floss, interdental brushes, or a water flosser, choose the tool you’ll use consistently. Angle bristles gently toward the gumline, and uses light pressure to disrupt plaque without irritating tissues. If you have dexterity challenges, your dental team can recommend adaptive tools and techniques.

Routine dental checkups and professional cleanings allow your dentist to catch changes early and remove hardened deposits that home care can’t reach. If you have a history of periodontal disease, your provider may suggest maintenance visits every 3–4 months to manage biofilm and monitor pocket depths. Be sure to share updates about your health, medications, and lifestyle, these can influence your gums and the best plan of care.

Support gum health through smart lifestyle choices. Avoid tobacco and vaping, manage stress, stay active, and prioritize sleep to help regulate inflammation. Aim for a nutrient-rich diet with plenty of fiber, lean proteins, and vegetables, and limit sugary snacks and drinks that feed plaque bacteria. Hydration supports saliva flow to buffer acids and rinse away food particles.

Your Next Steps

If you notice bleeding gums, persistent bad breath, or changes in how your teeth feel or fit together, schedule an evaluation with your dentist. Early diagnosis and targeted treatment can halt disease progression and protect your smile. Knowing what dentists do if you have periodontal disease, and recognizing how a dentist treats gum disease at each stage, can help you seek timely care and maintain long-term oral health.