Dental care is about more than just safeguarding your teeth. Your gums support your teeth and frame your smile, and poor periodontal health could leave you vulnerable to inflammation and even disease. In today’s blog, your Rochester, MN, family dentist talks about how we improve your gum health.
The Factors Behind Poor Gum Health
When we don’t brush and floss properly and eat a diet high in sugar and starch, this can lead to plaque and tartar buildup that irritates and inflames the gum tissues. This can be exacerbated by tobacco use, a family history of periodontal issues, and the use of certain medications or the presence of inflammatory illnesses. Without treatment to manage the inflation, the tissues could pull away from the teeth and provide pockets for disease-causing bacteria to enter. You then develop periodontal disease and require treatment to manage it, otherwise this can reach the periodontitis stage, one responsible for the onset of adult tooth loss.
Warning Signs of Gingivitis and Periodontal Disease
Be sure you contact our team for a visit when you notice changes to your gums that could indicate the presence of inflammation or disease. For example, this could include redness, soreness, and bleeding when you brush and floss. Over time, the tissues could swell or even recede, making your teeth appear long and uneven. Gum recession can also increase the risk of tooth decay and infection too. We don’t want you to suffer from tooth loss and develop poor oral health. Instead, talk to our team about protecting your overall health and managing this issue to keep your smile strong!
Treatment and Management
Our team may start with a deep cleaning, also known as a scaling and root planing. The procedure involves our team removing all plaque and tartar from both the teeth and the roots with an ultrasonic scaling device and a manual pick. Depending on the severity of your buildup, this could take one visit or up to four. Our team then polishes the teeth so plaque and tartar have a hard time clinging to the surfaces of the teeth and causing inflammation. We could also discuss the use of advanced laser technology to address more severe cases of the disease. After these procedures, we can help manage it with traditional cleanings every three to four months.
If you have any questions about how we diagnose and treat issues like periodontal disease, or about preventing the disease with better oral hygiene habits, then contact our team today to learn more.
SCHEDULE YOUR PERIODONTAL APPOINTMENT TODAY
Our team is ready to help you enjoy good oral health and strong gums, schedule a cosmetic appointment today. Call or text us at Greenview Dentistry in Rochester, MN, today at (507) 281-3659.
