If you have sore, red, and bleeding gums, then you need to see our team for periodontal treatment. Otherwise, gum disease could lead to missing teeth and major discomfort! But we can help with a deep cleaning. In today’s blog, Brighton Family Dentistry talks about helping smiles with a scaling and root planing in Brighton, MA.
The Causes of Gum Disease
What causes periodontal disease to form in your smile? Gum disease forms when the gums become inflamed, also known as gingivitis. Without treatment to reverse this inflammation, the gum tissues can pull away from the teeth to form pockets, which disease-causing bacteria then enter. You now have periodontal disease, which cannot be cured, but must be managed to avoid the stages linked to adult tooth loss.
Factors behind your gum inflammation include plaque and tartar buildup caused by factors like a diet high in sugar or poor brushing and flossing. Lack of dental cleanings to remove buildup every six months could be a cause too. For others, factors like inflammatory illnesses, certain medications, or the use of tobacco products could be an issue. Some may have a family history of the disease too!
Warning Signs and The Importance of Treatment
What warning signs should you be aware of? People with gum inflammation and disease may report soreness in their tissues, as well as a redder appearance. The gums could bleed easily when you brush and floss, and the tissues could also swell. Gum recession could also occur, in which the tissues pull back enough to make teeth appear longer and uneven, which could also leave teeth vulnerable to tooth decay and infection.
Without treatment, this could reach a stage known as periodontitis, during which the attachment tissues between the teeth and gums deteriorate, which causes adult tooth loss. But we can help with a periodontal cleaning known as a scaling and root planing.
Scaling and Root Planing
With the scaling and root planing, we use the same tools as a dental cleaning, but we remove buildup from both the teeth and the roots, and from under the gums. Our team then polishes the teeth thoroughly to make it more difficult for buildup to occur before we see you again for a traditional cleaning in three to four months. The procedure is more involved than a traditional cleaning, so we may numb your smile beforehand. This could take one visit or several, and helps manage the disease to keep your smile whole and healthy!
Talk to Brighton Family Dental About Saving Your Smile
Our team wants to help manage your gum health and protect your smile from major complications. Learn more about periodontal therapy by calling us at Brighton Family Dental Group in Brighton, MA, today at (617) 562-5210.
