Periodontal Therapy: The Best Solution for Gum Disease

Almost anyone can tell you that they know the danger cavities pose on teeth and, ultimately, oral health. However, most people don’t consider the vital role that gums play in their oral health. Your teeth cannot be healthy if your gums are unhealthy.

Gum disease, periodontitis, or periodontal disease is one of those oral health issues that can sneak up on you, and before you know it, you have a real problem in your hands. This is why you need prompt periodontal therapy treatment to ensure that your gums return to their former glory. In most cases, gum disease is preventable. However, there are scores of Americans who suffer from the disease.

Is Periodontal Disease Serious?

You might have come across the word gingivitis, which describes the early stages of the disease, characterized by gum inflammation. During this stage, if you seek treatment from our periodontal therapy dental office and adopt good oral hygiene habits, coupled with a few lifestyle changes, you can reverse the effects.

However, if you let it continue unchecked, you can get periodontal disease, which can cause severe damage to your teeth and oral health. The bacteria found in the sticky substance that forms on the teeth, known as plaque, cause the gums to recede. This means that your gums will start pulling away from your teeth because bacteria destroy the gum tissue.

If you don’t deal with it, the bacteria will continue to wreak havoc and even erode the underlying bone supporting the teeth, which causes tooth loss in the long run. If losing your teeth isn’t bad enough, the bacteria can get into your bloodstream and increase the risk of getting a stroke, diabetes, and even heart disease.

What Causes Periodontal Disease?

The number one cause of periodontitis is plaque or calculus, which arises due to poor oral hygiene. However, there are other causes of the disease, such as:

• Smoking
• Hormonal changes that happen during pregnancy or puberty
• Certain medications that reduce the production of saliva
• Chronic illnesses like diabetes

There are other risk factors that you need to consider, such as:

• Poor nutrition
• Obesity
• Family history of gum disease

How Do You Know You Have Periodontitis?

If you are unaware of the signs, you might brush off most of the symptoms thinking there’s nothing serious to worry about. Some of the signs that you should peel your eyes for:

• Receding gums
• Sensitive teeth
• Halitosis (foul breath)
• Bad taste in the mouth
• Red, tender, and swollen gums
• Easily bleeding gums when you brush your teeth
• Formation of pockets between your gums and teeth

How Is It Treated?

Periodontal disease has stages, meaning that different stages will need different approaches to achieve the best possible result. Regardless of the method used, the primary idea is to clean the pockets and remove the tartar so that your gums can heal. Improving your oral habits can go a long way in keeping the disease at bay.

There are two types of treatment:

Non-Surgical Treatment

• Scaling and Root Planing

Our dentist will remove the tartar and bacteria formed around the base of the teeth using a laser. Also, the root surfaces will be smoothened to prevent plaque build-up. Root planing can be performed to remove the bacterial byproducts that cause gum inflammation.

• Antibiotics

You might also receive topical and oral antibiotics to control the spread of the bacteria in those hard-to-reach places.

Surgical Treatment

If your gum disease has advanced, then surgery might be your best bet. Some of the procedures performed are:

• Soft tissue grafts– Theseare performed if you have lost gum tissue.
• Flap surgery –This is done to expose your tooth roots for better access, so root planing and scaling can be carried out.
• Bone grafting– This is performed in cases where there is bone loss.
• Tissue-stimulating proteins– These are placed to stimulate tissue and bone growth.
• Periodontal laser therapy-This is performed with the other therapies and is done to remove the inflamed gum tissue from your tooth’s root.

Gum disease can be prevented if you practice proper oral hygiene each day. Contact us at Bella Smiles if you need periodontal therapy treatment.