It isn't pleasant to have bloody gums. However, that's what you will see in the mirror if you have been diagnosed with gum disease.

You can even end up losing your teeth if you have gingivitis or periodontitis. Both are problems that destroy the tissues your teeth are rooted in. Once you get either of these diseases, you will begin to see major problems in your gums or jaw.

If left untreated, gingivitis can advance into periodontitis. After a while, plaque multiplies at the bottom of your gums. The contaminants eventually attack the gums and the body turns your mouth into a war zone. Because of this, your gums and jaw bone get wrecked. The gums break free from the teeth and leave empty spots in your mouth where bacteria can thrive.

To remove the problem, the Wilkes-Barre gum disease dentist will scrub your tooth roots clean and take off all the accumulated plaque and do away with any bacteria that is still lurking around the root.

Although if you really want to make sure that your gum problems are cleared up for good, you will also have to do your part. You will need to floss after every meal. I think waxed dental floss is ideal. Just stick it in your pocket so you've got it if you're going to eat while you're out.

After you're done flossing, grab your toothbrush. You should always brush for about two minutes, hitting your gums as well as your teeth. Work your brush back and forth with a little bit of pressure and be sure the brush hits the gums as well. Bacteria can't stand up to a toothbrush very well.

Once you've built that habit, try a waterpik. I recommend that you use a waterpik with a cannula — a syringe like device which allows you to get fluid all over your gums and teeth. That fluid should be a mixture of warm water, salt and hydrogen peroxide.

Gum disease is serious, but it can be treated. The success of that treatment relies on a firm trust between a Wilkes-Barre dentist and yourself.