Gum Disease and Periodontal Therapies

Treating Periodontal Disease

Whether you have or are concerned that you might have, gum disease, Brocks Gap Dentistry offers a range of therapies to treat this oral health malady, which is also known as periodontal disease. The periodontal therapies offered at Brocks Gap Dentistry cover a wide range of treatment options.

At the beginning stages of gum disease, tartar builds up along and under the gumline, resulting in inflammation and gingivitis. If left untreated, gum disease will advance. More advanced gingivitis, periodontitis, happens when your gums recede and pull away from your teeth. Pockets form in the gums, which become a haven for bacteria, food debris, and more. This starts a cycle of ever-worsening oral health until you receive treatment.

How do you know if you have gum disease?

Potential Signs of Gum Disease

Signs of gum disease can include some of the following:

  • Bleeding, red, swollen, tender, or receding gums
  • Bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth
  • Change in bite or fit of partial dentures
  • Pus between teeth and gums

Gum disease is not uncommon. It’s a leading cause of tooth loss in adults. If left untreated, this can become a chronic issue that can lead to gingivitis, periodontitis, and the need for dentures, among other issues. While there is no cure for gum disease, there are, thankfully, multiple options for treating it.

Treating Gum Disease

Regular professional cleanings and evaluations, in addition to good personal dental hygiene habits, such as brushing, flossing, and maintaining a good diet, are all helpful in curbing gum disease’s growth.

There are also a variety of nonsurgical and surgical treatment options. Nonsurgical treatment includes scaling and root planing. Scaling and root planing involves removing existing tartar and bacteria from tooth surfaces to create smooth root surfaces and further decrease future buildup. Antibacterial treatments, which often consist of mouth rinses that help control potential or ongoing bacterial infections, often follow scaling and root planing procedures.

Surgical treatments can include flap surgery, which consists of lifting back a small flap of skin for more effective scaling and root planing. In more advanced cases, soft tissue grafts may be required. This consists of replacing receding gumlines. In severe cases, bone grafting may be required to restore jawbone health.

At Brocks Gap Dentistry, we have a range of maintenance and treatment options available. Be sure to come in for an appointment to check your teeth and gums, but in the meantime, here are some lifestyle tweaks and remedies you can use to help eliminate any potential gum diseases:

  • Brush at least twice daily, or even after every meal
  • Floss daily
  • Use a soft-bristled toothbrush (or a soft electric brush), and be sure to replace it regularly
  • Use a dentist-recommended mouth rinse
  • Get regular dental cleanings
  • Don’t use tobacco products of any form

Preventative Dentistry

Preventative dentistry is about keeping a happy and healthy mouth, which is our goal at Brocks Gap Dentistry.

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