With a board-certified periodontist as part of our team, we understand how to help prevent or manage gum disease. Routine care is crucial for avoiding long-term, negative impacts, such as tooth loss! In today’s blog, your Brighton, MA, dentists will look at four different ways to help prevent gum disease, or to properly manage it to protect your smile.
Understanding the Disease
The issue starts with gingivitis, also known as gum inflammation., The gums could become inflamed due to plaque and tartar buildup, which occurs as a result of poor oral hygiene and a diet high in sugary foods and drinks. Smoking and tobacco use could also be factor, as could inflammatory illnesses and the use of certain medications. In the gingivitis stage, you may notice sore, red gums that appear swollen at times. As the inflammation leads to periodontal disease, the gums could bleed easily. While gingivitis can be reversed with routine care, periodontal disease cannot, and will instead needed to be managed with regular in-office treatment.
Brush and Floss Daily:
When you brush and floss, you help remove trapped food particles, lowering the severity of plaque buildup in between office visits. You should brush twice daily for two minutes, once when you wake up and again before bed. You also need to floss every night before bed, which removes the food particles a toothbrush alone cannot reach.
Avoid Tobacco Products:
When we smoke cigarettes or use other tobacco products, this increases the risk of severe gum disease, also known as periodontitis. Not only does periodontitis cause more severe symptoms, but you could also be more likely to lose your teeth as a result!
Have Your Teeth Cleaned:
Every six months, we want to see you for a checkup and cleaning. A checkup means we can monitor your smile for signs of trouble, offering a treatment plan to protect your smile and manage periodontal issues. We also remove all plaque and tartar from the teeth, which helps lower inflammation. If you have high risk factors for the disease, we may suggest a visit every three to four months instead of every six.
Undergo a Scaling and Root Planing
When we find the presence of gingivitis, or periodontal disease, we may suggest a deep cleaning, which removes buildup from both the teeth and the roots. The process could take one visit, or up to four, and helps restore the health of your smile!
Do You Have Questions About Periodontal Care?
Our team wants to help keep your smile strong, healthy, and free of disease. To learn more about periodontal treatment, then schedule a consultation by calling Brighton Family Dental Group in Brighton, MA, today at (617) 562-5210. We proudly welcome patients from Brighton, Watertown, and all surrounding communities.
