When someone develops gum disease, there is no cure. However, care to manage the disease is crucial for avoiding major complications down the road, including adult tooth loss. In today’s blog, your Brighton, MA, dentists will discuss how we manage issues like gum disease, and keep your smile healthy and whole for years to come.
The Causes and Potential Dangers of Gum Disease
Without proper oral hygiene, food particles could be left behind, stuck between teeth or along the gum line. As bacteria break down these particles, plaque is created and coats the teeth. The sticky buildup then irritates and inflames the gums, causing gingivitis. Unless treated, gingivitis will worsen and enable the tissues to pull away from the teeth, forming deep pockets for bacteria to enter. Now, periodontal disease has formed. Other factors behind the disease include a family history of periodontal issues, smoking cigarettes and the use of other tobacco products, inflammatory illnesses, and the use of certain medications. While gingivitis can be reversed, gum disease cannot. Unless managed with treatment, this could mean the onset of adult tooth loss with time!
Prevention
What can be done to help prevent the disease? We suggest taking time to brush and floss thoroughly every day from home. You should brush twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste for two minutes each session, and then floss every evening before bed. These actions remove the trapped food particles. Since these actions can’t remove plaque and tartar, you should see us for a checkup and cleaning every six months. We will monitor your gum health, and also remove all plaque and tartar with a dental cleaning. You should also avoid the use of tobacco products and cut back on sugary foods and drinks, which promote plaque buildup.
Management
In the early stages, we could use a deep cleaning, known as a scaling and root planing, to either reverse gingivitis or manage the disease, preventing the advanced stages responsible for tooth loss. The process takes between one and four visits on average, and removes buildup from the roots as well as the surface so the teeth. If you have a more advanced stage, then our on-staff periodontist is ready to perform more specialized treatments, such as gum surgery. After we remove the diseased tissue, the smile will regenerate new, healthy tissues to make managing the problem easier. If you have any questions about our treatment options, then please contact our team today to learn more.
Ready to Treat Periodontal Issues?
Our team wants to help protect the stability of your smile with periodontal care. To learn more about treating periodontal issues, 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.
