Gum disease and bad breath care are central to your oral health and overall confidence, and we are here to guide you through every available treatment option. At Rundlehorn Smiles Dental, we provide a full range of gum disease and bad breath care services for families and patients in NE Calgary, Marlborough, Sunridge and the surrounding areas, so you can feel assured you have the support you need at every stage of oral health.
In this article
- Understanding Gum Disease: Stages and Signs
- Diagnosis: Your First Step Towards Healthy Gums
- Main Treatment Options for Gum Disease
- What to Expect: Comfort, Recovery, and Aftercare
- Cost, Insurance, and Payment Options
- Why Treat Gum Disease and Bad Breath Early?
- Our Approach to Bad Breath Care
- When to Book a Dental Exam
- We Are Here to Help
Understanding Gum Disease: Stages and Signs
Our periodontal (gum) care focuses on treating and preventing gum disease with thorough cleanings, careful monitoring, and a maintenance plan built around your needs. Gum disease starts with gingivitis, the earliest stage where plaque irritates the gums, causing them to look red or puffy and potentially bleed when you brush or floss.
At the gingivitis stage, there is no lasting damage, and professional cleaning plus good home care can often reverse it. When left untreated, gingivitis may advance to periodontitis, the gums begin to pull away from teeth, pockets form, and bone starts to break down.
This more advanced stage cannot be reversed, but treatment can stop the disease from worsening and helps keep your teeth stable.
Common signs you may need gum disease treatment include
- Gums that bleed when you brush or floss
- Red, swollen, or tender gums
- Gums pulling away from your teeth
- Deep gum pockets
- Teeth that feel loose or have shifted
- Persistent bad breath or a bad taste
Diagnosis: Your First Step Towards Healthy Gums
When you visit us with concerns about gum disease or bad breath, we start with a dental exam and X-rays to check the health of your teeth, gums, and bone. This helps us diagnose gum disease and create a treatment plan that’s right for you.
Main Treatment Options for Gum Disease
We offer dental cleanings as part of regular preventive care, helping keep healthy gums healthy. If gum disease is found, scaling and root planing, a deep cleaning performed below the gumline, is often recommended to stop the condition from progressing.
Scaling and root planing removes plaque and tartar from beneath the gumline, smooths the roots of your teeth, and helps the gums heal and reattach to your teeth. This treatment usually includes
- A thorough gum exam, with pocket measurements
- X-rays to examine bone support
- Local numbing to ensure you’re comfortable
- Removal of plaque and tartar, smoothing root surfaces
- Advice on home care and a recommended hygiene schedule based on your needs
Treatment may be completed over one or two visits, depending on how many areas require attention. After your deep cleaning, we check your healing and may suggest a more frequent hygiene schedule to monitor ongoing gum health.
What to Expect: Comfort, Recovery, and Aftercare
You might feel some mild sensitivity or tenderness for a day or two following scaling and root planing, but your gums usually start to heal right away, and improvement becomes noticeable within weeks. We recommend waiting until numbness wears off before eating, opting for soft, lukewarm foods on the first day, and brushing gently with a soft toothbrush.
If pain, swelling, or bleeding gets worse instead of better, call us at 403-300-2233 so we can support your recovery.
A regular cleaning is for healthy gums and routines, while a deep cleaning is specifically for treating gum disease and infection below the gumline.
If you feel anxious about dental procedures, we offer sedation options for a more comfortable experience.
Cost, Insurance, and Payment Options
We always provide a written, itemised estimate before any treatment begins and explain how many visits your unique situation will require. The total cost depends on your particular needs, from routine cleanings to deep cleanings for more advanced gum disease.
We direct bill most major insurers and participate in the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP). Flexible payment options are available for larger treatments to make your care as accessible as possible.
Why Treat Gum Disease and Bad Breath Early?
Early treatment for gum disease helps protect your teeth from damage that cannot be reversed and greatly reduces your risk of tooth loss. Healthy gums also play a role in your overall health, lowering your risk for heart disease, stroke, and diabetes complications.
Treating gum disease also helps with comfort and confidence, so you can speak, smile, and spend time with others without worrying about your breath or discomfort.
Regular periodontal care supports long-term oral hygiene, helping to maintain cleaner teeth and a healthier mouth.
Our Approach to Bad Breath Care
Bad breath is often linked to gum disease, and we tackle its root causes with periodontal treatments plus guidance on home care. Our bad breath treatment includes a full oral exam, a gum assessment, a professional cleaning, treatment of cavities or worn fillings that may trap bacteria, and personalized guidance for home care and tongue cleaning.
When to Book a Dental Exam
If you notice your gums bleeding, persistent bad breath, gum recession, or loose teeth, the best first step is booking a dental exam. Early intervention makes gum disease much easier to treat, and even in later stages, we can help stabilise your oral health and restore your confidence.
We Are Here to Help
We are open seven days a week and welcome both new and returning patients for gum disease and bad breath care. You can reach us with questions or to book your appointment at 403-300-2233 or by visiting us at 6915 Rundlehorn Dr NE, Calgary, AB.
Your comfort, clarity, and oral health are our priorities, please contact us to discuss your concerns or to book your next visit.