The gums, bone, and ligaments around the teeth are the foundation for one’s teeth. All these structures are also referred to as the periodontium. When the periodontium is not healthy, teeth are greatly jeopardized, just as a house would be with a faulty foundation.
Periodontal or gum disease causes gums to swell or bleed because of plaque buildup and bacterial infection. The longer plaque is left piling up on teeth, the more inflamed gums become. This creates pockets of space between the gums and teeth where it’s easier for bacteria to grow and multiply.
The longer gum disease is left untreated, the more likely it is for bones and teeth to also become infected by bacteria, weaken, and even fall out all together.
How Can I Prevent Gum Disease?
The best way to protect against gum disease is daily brushing and flossing, along with scheduled professional teeth cleanings from a dental office. This helps to keep plaque and tartar from building up and separating gums from teeth.
However, this won’t always ensure that your gums and periodontium are completely immune to disease, especially if your family has a history of gum disease. Not eating a balanced diet full of certain vitamins can also affect gums getting infected, as can stress, smoking and tobacco usage, changes in hormone levels, and other diseases that cause inflammation.
Signs of Gum Disease
How can you know if you are experiencing gum disease? Here are a few signs to look for regularly:
- Red and bleeding gums
- Sensitive gums and teeth
- Persistent bad breath
- Gums pulled away from the tooth and
- receding gum lines
- Changes in positioning or bite of teeth
- Pain when chewing
- Loose teeth
Any one of these symptoms could indicate periodontal disease. However, if treated it is possible to restore gums and bones back to a healthy state.
Treatment for Periodontal Gum Disease: What are Scaling and Root Planing?
If you are experiencing any one of these symptoms, come in to Meridian Dental so that we can attend to your gums and teeth before a larger issue occurs. Our Wasilla dental office offers non-surgical gum treatments that provide effective solutions to get your gums and teeth back to full health.
Treatment for gum disease usually includes a deep cleaning (referred to as scaling) and root planing done under a local anesthetic, along with local antibiotic agents. Our dentist, after numbing the affected area, will clean teeth above the gum line and below in those periodontal pockets. All buildup is removed, followed by root planing. This process smooths down tooth roots, making it harder for bacteria to grow and easier for gums to reattach.
You then may be prescribed antibiotics depending on the extent of your gum disease, to help stop all harmful bacteria growth. If the gum disease escalates, surgery or extraction may be necessary.
Schedule Your Gum Treatment Today!
Contact Meridian Dental today to schedule an appointment with our general and family dentist when you are suffering from gum disease symptoms. Call us in Wasilla for more information!
