Having miffed, swollen, or bleeding gums? This might be a symptom of early gum disease, otherwise known as periodontal disease, or more commonly, gingivitis. However, if you take the appropriate precaution and practice healthy oral hygiene, you may be able to put a stop to gum disease before it even starts.
Rinsing using a daily mouthwash, brushing at least twice a day, and flossing at least once a day diminishes plaque to aid in keeping gums healthy. Planning routine six-month dental checkups is also a key factor in keeping the mouth clean and healthy.
Gum disease treatment incorporates a broad range of dental processes. These processes or procedures are employed by healthcare providers to help reduce infection in the mouth and rebuild the damaged tissues caused by periodontal or gum disease. Such procedures are performed by periodontists (gum specialists). However, there are milder forms of gum disease that can be easily managed by general dentists.
Gum disease comes as a result of plaque and tartar building up on the teeth’ surfaces. The reaction of your gums towards the bacteria and these irritants is them becoming red, tender, and swollen in turn. Moreover, your gums might easily bleed when brushing or flossing.
No time like the present for treating gum disease, because the chances for long-lasting oral health are higher. At the very early stages, during which the disease is known as gingivitis, it is reversible. However, in the later stages, when it takes the name periodontitis, it causes damage to the gums and underlying bone. This will then lead to gaps or periodontal pockets, around the teeth, leaving space for further infection, loose teeth, or even tooth loss altogether.
Whichever it is, surgical or nonsurgical gum disease treatment relies on multiple factors, such as:
There is open accessibility to a high number of surgical and nonsurgical gum disease treatment alternatives. Furthermore, numerous periodontists provide sedation dentistry as a solution to keeping you relaxed throughout the treatment. If you want to learn more about the topic, talk to a healthcare provider.
Patients with early-stage gum disease such as mild periodontitis or gingivitis can easily see the advantages of nonsurgical treatments. Nonsurgical therapies for gum disease involve:
Part of the routine dental cleanings, you know, the one numerous people have with their dentist at least twice a year. Throughout this procedure, a supplier gets rid of plaque and tartar from the teeth’ surfaces.
With the help of professional dental cleanings and improved oral hygiene at home, people who have gingivitis, the very first stage of gum disease, can oftentimes reverse it. Contingent to your situation, you may necessitate more frequent cleanings with your dentist or hygienist to withstand the harmful bacteria.
A deep dental cleaning, namely scaling and root planing, reaches deep down the gum line to eliminate plaque and tartar on the root surfaces. Additionally to utterly cleaning the teeth, any rough spot found on the teeth roots will be smoothed away by the periodontist or dental hygienist. Such a thing will prevent bacteria and plaque from reattaching. For you to be comfortable throughout the procedure, your periodontist will administer local anesthesia to numb the gums.
Antibiotics can be utilized by your periodontist, be it as a stand-alone alternative or in a medley with other procedures. Some of the most common antibiotics used during the treatment of gum disease include chlorhexidine or minocycline HCI. These medications can be placed in the space between the gums and the teeth, known as the periodontal pocket.
In the course of this procedure, the periodontist employs a tiny laser to get rid of the diseased tissue and eliminate the bacteria under the gums. In certain instances, suppliers suggest laser therapy as an optional solution to traditional gum surgery. Au contraire to gum surgery, laser therapy does not necessitate cuts or stitching.
People suffering from moderate to advanced periodontal disease generally need surgical intervention. Some of the surgical treatments for gum disease include:
Incisions are created along the gum line by your periodontist during this procedure, and then the gums are temporarily moved away from the teeth. This gives them entrance to the roots underneath. Following this, the tartar buildup is removed and the root surfaces are cleaned. In certain cases, areas of damaged bone might need smoothing and reshaping, which makes it harder for bacteria to hide and grow. Ultimately, the gums are repositioned and sutured into place.
To rebuild regions that have been damaged by gum disease, a dental bone graft utilizes your bone, synthetic bone, or donated bone. Until your body can regenerate new bone, the graft will be serving as a kind of scaffolding that keeps space. Bone grafting is often performed by periodontists in combination with pocket reduction surgery.
Similar to bone grafting because it uses parts of the body, donated or synthetic to fix the damage, gum grafting uses tissues to treat gum recession, which happens when the gums pull away from the teeth. Gum recession is a very usual sign of periodontal disease.
During gum grafting surgery, the tissue graft is placed in regions where the gums have receded and stitched (sutured) into place. If your tissue is used, the graft will be taken from the roof of the mouth.
Periodontal disease can be the reason behind gaps formed between the tooth root and bone. During guided tissue regeneration, a membrane is placed by your periodontist in the damaged area to sustain the gum tissue from growing where the bone should be. This permits your body to regenerate bone around the tooth, giving it enough time. In many instances, periodontists place a bone graft through the same procedure to aid in this procedure.
You should keep in mind that a severe case of periodontal disease is not something you simply wake up one morning with. It progresses over time. Meaning, good oral hygiene can go a long way in preventing it from achieving an irreversible phase. Firstly, plaque, the sticky layer of microbes you most likely felt on your teeth this morning, builds up over time, unless you keep on brushing and flossing regularly. Following, the plaque will mix with the rest of the minerals on the teeth and turn into tartar by hardening, which normally necessitates teeth cleaning to diminish. In case the plaque and tartar aren’t eliminated, they will cause inflammation and irritation to the gums which will then result in gum disease.
You will keep a great oral hygiene routine and in turn your gums healthy if you brush and floss your teeth twice a day, as well as get your teeth cleaned every six months at the dentist.
One of the leading reasons behind gum disease is vitamin C deficiency. Meaning, in simple words, that food rich in vitamin C such as oranges, strawberries, kiwis, or perhaps even vitamin C supplements can encourage resistance to gum disease. Though many of you might not know, vitamin C has healing features that can prevent gums bleeding and swelling, which are very common gum disease signs.
Not only is a balanced diet quite good for overall health, but it can additionally improve your smile. Be certain to keep away from sugary drinks and foods that can become the cause of tooth decay. It is a generally known fact that bacteria feed on carbs and sugar, and so do the bacteria in plaque, and then it releases acids that can cause damage to your teeth and gums. Before deciding to put something in your grocery cart, do check the nutritional information on the package. Several drinks and foods that are packaged and titled health items can contain high levels of sugar.
Were you aware that saliva is one of the best natural defenses our body has against dental plaque? Once done with a meal, your body will produce more saliva to wash away the food particles and plaque. To maintain a healthy smile, make sure to consume plenty of water during the day. Moreover, do remember that some drinks, including coffee or alcohol, play a role in dehydrating rather than hydrating.
Through teeth cleaning, our dental hygienist will have the ability to remove plaque and tartar from the teeth. At a later date, they will be capable of checking for any signs of gum disease so you will keep a healthy smile.
Even supposing that you are part of those people who are already suffering from periodontal disease, our dentists will help you handle your issue. Scaling and root planing can aid in preventing receding gums and additional oral health conditions. By being loyal to the every six months dentist appointments, you can have your gums checked and set a treatment plan if our dentists find out you have gum disease.
The benefits of treatment for gum disease override the cons. If left untreated, gum disease goes through its destructive path, resulting in an infection cycle, bone loss, and gradual tooth loss. With immediate treatment, you are able:
The success rate of periodontal disease treatment is quite impressive, considering it can reach 95% in some cases. Varying is based on several elements, such as the type of procedure performed and how much a person cares for their teeth and gums after the treatment.
Gum disease treatment can alter the long-term perspective for teeth damaged by periodontitis. In many instances, this kind of therapy can preserve teeth that were despairing without treatment. It is essential to recognize that gum disease cannot be cured, but it can be managed, so treatments do mainly focus on preventing and managing, rather than curing.
Probable risks or complications associated with gum disease treatment include:
If you see any of these complications arising, make sure to call your periodontist. He or she will promptly prescribe medications or recommend therapies that will help ease these side effects.
The recovery period from gum disease treatment depends entirely on the type of treatment you have received. If you simply undergo scaling and root planing, there is no need to worry seeing as there is no need for any downtime. If, on the other hand, you undergo procedures for a more advanced periodontal disease such as bone grafts, gum grafts, or flap surgery, you will be needing somewhere between one to four weeks to completely heal.
Right after the gum disease treatment, your periodontist will be giving you a compiled list of detailed care directions. Such instructions can change fitting to the type of procedure you have undergone. Inquire about any specific post-treatment care. Generally, you should:
Gum disease treatment aids in the reduction of the presence of harmful bacteria in the mouth. Yet, if you aren’t a practitioner of good oral hygiene at home, the bacteria can always regrow, bringing you right back to the start line. To stop this from happening, or minimize the chances of it, you should thoroughly follow your periodontist’s individualized instructions. The following are some general guidelines:
A gum specialist, known in the medical field as a periodontist, is the kind of provider that treats periodontal disease. There are certain instances, when the disease hasn’t evolved much, that a general or family dentist takes care of. If you are having trouble finding the right periodontist, or aren’t bothering looking at all, you can get a referral to one from your dentist.
Mouthwash is an efficient utensil for preventing and addressing periodontal disease. Take into consideration, nevertheless, that mouthwash is not a replacement for flossing, brushing, or regular dental checkups. Make sure to pick an antibacterial formula that is alcohol-free – one that has a component of either chlorhexidine or hydrogen peroxide. These elements promote the reduction of plaque and tartar. If you are uncertain of which brand or formula to go for, you can always ask your dentist or periodontist.
Please be mindful that even though hydrogen peroxide has the capability of reducing plaque and tartar on your teeth, it should in no way be used undiluted, since it can lead to burning of the gum tissue. If you desire, however, you can mix one part hydrogen peroxide with three parts water. Swoosh this medley for sixty seconds, then spit it out. Another alternative would be to purchase a mouthwash that already contains hydrogen peroxide.
Unfortunately, gum disease is not something that can be cured. Yet, with the proper care it is controllable. It should be noted, however, that you cannot fruitfully control gum disease sans the aiding of a dentist or periodontist. The cause behind that is the fact that bacteria seep way down under the surface of the gums, places where brushing and flossing have little to no chance of reaching.
In a best-case scenario, meticulous oral hygiene may slow down the destruction process. Having said that, professional treatment is vital to appropriate management and long-term oral health.
Our CDC dental office dentists are thoroughly focused on helping patients sustain their healthy smiles by providing teeth cleanings and other preemptive dentistry treatments. Contact us online to solicit an appointment today.
