Gum disease (also referred to as periodontal disease) is the most common oral health problem experienced by patients, and our team at Meriden Dental Group works hard to keep its consequences at bay with the help of personalized care. If we discover during your regular checkup that you’re suffering from gum disease, we can prescribe treatment based on its current severity. This may involve more in-depth cleanings, scaling and root planing, or the surgical removal of tissue. By dealing with gum disease as quickly and thoroughly as possible, we can help defend your oral health from future damage and protect both your time and budget.
How We Treat Gum Disease
Some of the early signs of gum disease include red, swollen, or tender gums that bleed whenever you clean them. Basically, this means that the soft tissue is under attack by an infection, and the only away to address it is to treat the area directly. If caught early, gum disease can typically be managed using additional dental cleanings and more diligent oral hygiene at home. However, once the infection has reached a certain level, more involved treatments may be needed.
This may include a deep cleaning of your gum line, and this is made up of two procedures: scaling and root planing. For scaling, we’ll used specialized tools to break up plaque and tartar that have built up along and under your gum line. Then, we’ll smooth out the rough surfaces of your teeth with root planing, and this will make you much less likely to develop gum disease in the future.
At times, scaling and root planing may not be enough to treat gum disease, and in these cases, we’ll utilize a simple but effective treatment to help at home.
What Is Periodontal Disease?
Periodontal Disease is an infection around the structure of the teeth and gums. Early stages of Periodontal Disease, also known as gingivitis can show signs of swollen and bleeding gums. This is a strong indication that the gums are most likely infected with bacteria. If nothing is done, the infection can spread and destroy the structure that supports the teeth in your mouth. This can result to loose teeth and possibly an extraction in the furture if nothing is done to help treat.
How To Prevent Gum Disease
Of course, we bet you’d rather not develop gum disease in the first place, and we’re with you on that! That’s why we’ll always keep an eye on the condition of your gums during your regular checkup. Usually, we’ll be able to catch it early, and this will enable us to treat it before it turns into anything serious. Thankfully, the best ways to take care of your gums involve many of the things you are already doing:
- Brush your teeth at least twice a day for 2 minutes, and pay special attention to also brush where your teeth and gums meet.
- Floss at least once a day to clean plaque and tartar from between your teeth.
- Minimize your consumption of sugary snacks and beverages
- Visit Meriden Dental Group at least twice a year for a preventive checkup.
Also, one of the biggest causes of gum disease is actually tobacco usage. Both smoked and smokeless tobacco weaken your gums’ ability to fight gum disease, and even worse, they can also lead to oral cancer. If you regularly use tobacco, you should try to come see us more often. We’ll never judge you—we just want you to be healthy! By doing the right things at home and coming to see us regularly, you’ll easily be able to stay gum disease free.
Learn More Today
If you’d like to learn more about gum disease, or anything else related to your tooth or gum health, don’t hesitate to contact us with your questions. Our office is located in Meriden, CT, and we warmly welcome patients from the surrounding communities.