Worried about gum disease and want to know more about effective gum disease treatment?
In this article, we’ll discuss what gum disease is, the signs of gum disease, gum disease treatment and how to prevent gum disease. We’ll also tell you how the experienced team at Bald Hills Dental can help.
What is Gum Disease?
Before we talk about how to prevent gum disease and gum disease treatment, let’s discuss what gum disease actually is.
Gum disease is best defined as when bacteria and plaque builds up on your teeth. Over time it will harden and spread throughout your mouth, causing periodontitis.
Common Signs of Gum Disease & Its Causes
So what causes gum disease, and what do you need to look out for?
Common symptoms of gum disease are bleeding or swollen gums, bad breath (or bad taste in your mouth), loose teeth or gums that separate from your teeth.
While gum disease is often caused by poor brushing techniques or not brushing enough, it can also be caused by:
– malnutrition
– stress
– diabetes
– weakened immune system (due to medical treatments like chemotherapy)
– smoking
– family genetics
How to Prevent Gum Disease
Want to know how to prevent gum disease and gum disease treatments at home? There are many options. Here we’ll go through them in more detail.
Brush Regularly
When you’re looking for ways on how to prevent gum disease, one of the best places to start is brushing regularly. As professional dentists, we recommend brushing twice daily,
Floss
Flossing can be incredibly beneficial to your oral health, especially when it comes to preventing gum disease.
Use the Correct “Tools”
You may think that one toothbrush is exactly like the others, but we’re here to tell you that that’s not really the case. Where possible, you should always follow your dentist’s advice, and we suggest:
– using an electric toothbrush
– choosing a therapeutic mouthwash
– buying a fluoride toothpaste
Quit Smoking
It goes without saying that smoking and vaping is not good for your health. If this is something you engage in, we recommend quitting.
Attend Regular Checkups
Of course, the best way to prevent gum disease – or to know you’re using the most effective gum disease treatment – is to attend regular checkups with your dentist.
Effective Gum Disease Treatment
Let’s examine effective gum disease treatments, how they work. It’s important to remember that when deciding what is the best gum disease treatment for you, you should work closely with your dentist
Scaling
Scaling is the removal of tartar and bacteria from your teeth and gums. There are a few ways this can be completed, using:
– laser
– instruments
– ultrasonic device
Root Planing
To prevent bacteria and tatar from building up in the first place, we may opt for a gum disease treatment known as root planing. This is where we smooth the surfaces of your gum roots to encourage them to your teeth.
Antibiotics
Sometimes, gum disease can be treated using antibiotics (which can take the form of a mouth rinse, gel or pill). The purpose of this is to target bacteria and remove infection.
Surgical Options
If your gum disease is particularly advanced, you may need to consider surgery. This is not something we consider lightly and would not recommend out of hand. Some of the options available are:
– pocket reduction
– soft tissue grafts
– bone grafts
– tissue stimulating proteins
– guided tissue regeneration
If this is something you require, it’s best to discuss your options with your dental professional.
How Bald Hills Dental Can Help
At Bald Hills Dental, we specialise in a range of general dentistry and orthodontic services, and can advise you on improving your oral health (including tips for preventing gum disease and gum disease treatment).
We’re committed to making our patients feel as comfortable as possible during their dental check ups or procedures and take extra care with children or those who find themselves anxious with the process.
To book an appointment for gum disease treatment – or to find out how to prevent gum disease – contact our friendly, experienced team at Bald Hills Dental today
