How Do I Treat Gum Disease?
12:00 PM
Although gum
disease is an entirely preventable, it is a chronic oral health problem
affecting countless adults. While there a number of available treatments,
long-term care is often dependent on how far the disease has progressed.
Gum
Disease Prevention
Ideally,
prevention is the best method of protecting dentitions from gum disease.
Effective prevention requires the establishment and maintenance of a thorough
oral care routine at-home. Effective at-home oral hygiene routines should
include brushing your teeth after each meal as well as flossing at least once a
day.
Gum disease
prevention should also include regular visits to your dentist’s office at least
twice a year. During these appointments, tartar build up is removed and your
smile is thoroughly examined for any changes that could indicate the
development of gum disease.
Treatments
for Gum Disease
Without treatment,
gingivitis can quickly progress into more serious advanced periodontitis,
leading to irreversible damage. However, with good professional treatment, it's
possible to prevent symptoms from getting worse. If implemented during the
initial stages, the following treatments can help prevent more serious
consequences.
Root
planing and scaling: Often used in conjunction, these treatments remove tartar from the
teeth and prevent future accumulation of plaque and tartar. Scaling removes
tartar from the teeth and below the gum line, while root planing is a process
that smooths the roots of teeth to reduce the ability of bacteria to attach to
the roots.
Antibiotic
treatment: Your
dentist may prescribe antibiotic mouthwashes such as chlorhexidine to control oral
bacterial growth. Another treatment involves inserting antibiotics into the
periodontal pockets or below the gum line to kill bacteria and prevent further damage
to the tissues.
Advanced
treatments: In severe
cases of periodontal disease, advanced surgical treatments such as grafts of
bone and soft tissue can help restore health and function while removing
bacteria from the dentition. Another kind of surgery, called flap surgery,
restructures the gums to reduce the size of infected pockets.
If you have
gum disease, it's important to understand that this is a chronic disease that requires
life-long maintenance. Without the right treatment or the development of a
long-term maintenance plan, patients risk recurring disease as well as advanced
progression. At our Bonney Lake dental office, our Light Dental Studios
dentists are committed to restore health to our patient’s smiles through
periodontal prevention, treatment, and maintenance. For more information about
gum disease therapy in Bonney Lake, contact Light Dental Studios today.
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