How Do I Cure Gum Disease?

 

Gum disease is caused when bacteria and plaque build up on and along your gumline, leaving the gum tissue irritated․ Over time, the irritation results in inflammation, infection, and more damage to the supporting structures of your teeth․ In its early stages, gum disease can be stopped, and the damage can be reversed. Once the disease is more advanced, it can be treated and kept under control with a combination of professional health care and healthy lifestyle habits, but it can’t be cured․

 

Regular and consistent professional dental cleaning is the first step in the treatment of gum disease․ During your appointment, the dental team removes plaque and tartar from the surface of your teeth and your gumline․ Once plaque has hardened into tartar, it is not possible to remove it using a toothbrush or other tools used during regular brushing. Using specialized equipment to remove it, the gums can begin to heal; this is more likely if the periodontal disease was diagnosed at the early stage, gingivitis․

 

For gum disease that is more advanced than mild gum swelling and irritation, deeper cleanings may help treat the underlying cause of the disease․ Scaling and ‌root planing is a procedure where the dentist or dental hygienist removes the bacteria under the gum line, scraping plaque and calculus from the teeth and periodontal pockets while smoothing the surfaces of the teeth to reduce the chance of further bacterial colonization․

 

Your dentist ‌may prescribe medications for the healing process, such as gels, tiny antibiotic chips that are inserted into periodontal pockets, or prescription mouth rinses that kill bacteria․ These treatments may be used alongside the scaling and root planing to control infection and promote healthier gums․

 

In more advanced stages of periodontitis, you may need more frequent periodontal maintenance, like dental cleanings․ Your periodontist may recommend an every-three-month cleaning, instead of every six months․ During these visits, your dental team will remove plaque and tartar buildup above and below the gumline, measure the depth ‌of your gum pockets, and evaluate the tissues․

 

If the supporting bone has been destroyed by the infection or deep periodontal pockets have formed, pocket reduction surgery may be needed․ Alternatively, regenerative treatment such as bone grafting or gum grafting can be employed to replace or restore the integrity of structures compromised by the disease․

 

Brushing at least twice a day is an extremely important and effective method to prevent the development of periodontal disease because it removes the plaque that irritates the gums․ Cleaning between the teeth once each day with floss or interdental brushes addresses the areas where the toothbrush can’t reach. Lifestyle factors, like tobacco use, may also have an effect on the health of the gums, because smoking interferes with the body’s ability to fight infection․ Eating a nutritious diet and staying hydrated will increase your immune response and help control the progress of gum disease․

 

If you have more questions about gum disease or how addressing it could help you achieve better dental health, make an appointment with the dentist to see your treatment options for gum disease.

 

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