Search This Blog

Stop Gum Disease

Stop Gum Disease

Oral hygiene. Gum disease affects millions of Americans and is the leading reason why teeth are lost. Treating it early can change this, but patients need to be diligent about practicing good oral hygiene and catching gum disease early with regular dental checkups and professional treatment. To prevent a recurrence of gum disease, patients must remain committed to practicing good oral hygiene at home and schedule regular dental checks and periodontal maintenance cleanings. He may also recommend gargling with an antimicrobial rinse to control bacteria, and tobacco users are strongly advised to stop, as smoking can cause gum disease to worsen.

Scaling and root planing. The only way to stop gum disease is with professional treatment. Scaling and root planing is commonly used to reduce pocket depths and remove bacteria, plaque, and tartar during the moderate to advanced stages of gum disease. At this stage, gum tissue is affected and tenderness, bleeding, and swelling may occur. Bone loss has also begun, but treating periodontal disease early on can help to prevent further loss of bone and mobility of teeth. Scaling and root planing is a simple non-surgical treatment that requires a local anesthetic and the use of dental instruments and ultrasonic scalers to remove the deposits beneath the gum line and clean the tooth roots and smooth the surfaces. After the plaque and tartar are removed and your mouth is healthy again, your gum tissue should start to reattach to the surfaces of the teeth.