Gum disease is one of the most common — and most overlooked — dental health problems in adults. It starts quietly, often with no pain at all, and by the time most patients notice something is wrong, significant damage has already occurred. At Maggie A. Kleem, DDS in Berea, Ohio, we screen for gum disease at every checkup and provide effective, non-surgical treatment when it's needed.
The good news: when caught early, gum disease responds very well to treatment. And even in more advanced cases, we can stop the progression, stabilize your gum health, and help you keep your natural teeth for years to come.
Understanding Gum Disease
Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection of the tissues surrounding your teeth — the gums, ligaments, and jawbone. It develops when plaque, the sticky film of bacteria that forms on your teeth, is not consistently removed through brushing and flossing. Over time, plaque hardens into tartar (calculus), which cannot be removed with a toothbrush and causes chronic inflammation.
There are two main stages. Gingivitis is the early, reversible stage — characterized by red, swollen gums that bleed when you brush or floss. With a professional cleaning and improved home care, gingivitis can be fully resolved. If it goes untreated, it can advance to periodontitis, where the infection spreads below the gumline and begins destroying the bone that holds your teeth in place. This stage requires more intensive treatment and cannot be fully reversed — only controlled.
Warning Signs of Gum Disease
- Bleeding gums — especially when brushing or flossing. Healthy gums should not bleed.
- Red, swollen, or tender gums — persistent inflammation is a hallmark of gum disease.
- Receding gums — your teeth may look longer as the gum tissue pulls away.
- Persistent bad breath — bacterial activity below the gumline often produces an unpleasant odor.
- Loose or shifting teeth — bone loss from advanced gum disease can make teeth feel less stable.
Our Treatment Approach
For early-stage gum disease, a thorough professional cleaning is often all that's needed, combined with better brushing and flossing habits at home. For more advanced cases, Dr. Kleem performs scaling and root planing — a deep-cleaning procedure done under local anesthesia that removes bacterial deposits from below the gumline and smooths the root surfaces so gum tissue can reattach.
After active treatment, we place most periodontal patients on a maintenance schedule — typically every three to four months instead of the standard six. This more frequent monitoring is essential to catch any signs of recurrence early and keep your gum disease under control for the long term.
Gum disease and your overall health
Research consistently links periodontal disease to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and complications in pregnancy. Treating your gum disease isn't just about your teeth — it's an investment in your whole-body health.