Give Your Gums the Attention They Deserve with Periodontal Therapy
Are your gums swollen or feeling tender? Have you noticed blood spots when brushing and flossing your teeth? These are tell-tale symptoms of gum or periodontal disease. While the symptoms seem minor and innocuous, it’s only a matter of time before your condition becomes severe. Untreated gum disease causes chronic bad breath, damaged gums, and tooth loss.
Biggio Dental Care understands your gums are crucial to overall oral health. We offer periodontal prevention, diagnosis, and treatment to ensure your gums remain healthy. If you want to achieve optimal gum health, schedule an appointment with Dr. Chad Biggio and his team.
How does gum disease develop?
Gum disease typically develops because of poor oral hygiene, which causes a buildup of dental plaque along the gum line. Over time, this buildup inflames the gums, causing gingivitis—the mild form of gum disease. Gingivitis causes several symptoms, like gum tenderness, swelling, and bleeding.
Untreated gingivitis quickly progresses to periodontitis, a more severe form of gum disease. Periodontitis damages the gum tissues and the underlying bone. Without proper treatment, periodontitis results in tooth loss. Worse yet, uncontrolled oral infection has been linked to heart disease, diabetes, and pregnancy complications.
How is gum disease diagnosed?
During a dental exam, the dentist visually examines your gums and surrounding structures to identify signs of infection. The dentist may use a periodontal probe to measure the depth between the gums and teeth. This depth (sulcus) is usually not more than 3mm in healthy gums. If your readings are more than 3mm, you have gum disease. Your diagnostics may also include dental x-rays to determine the extent of bone loss.Â
How is gum disease treated?
Your treatment depends on the extent of your gum disease. Gingivitis is the only curable form of gum disease. It’s usually treated with standard dental cleanings and a strict oral hygiene regimen of brushing, flossing, and using an oral rinse.Â
We usually recommend deep teeth cleaning for gum disease that is past the gingivitis stage. This two-pronged treatment consists of scaling and root planing (SRP). Scaling removes bad bacteria and built-in tartar from the deep periodontal pockets. Root planing smooths out the tooth roots to prevent bacterial buildup and promote healthy reattachment of gum tissues to the teeth. The dentist complements SRP with topical and oral antibiotics to prevent the reoccurrence of the infection.
Advanced gum disease involves gum flap surgery or laser-assisted treatment to treat infected tissues. The doctor may recommend gum and soft tissue grafting to replenish damaged tissues where necessary.Â
Is gum disease preventable?
Here are some steps to prevent gum disease.
- Brush twice daily
- Floss daily
- Use a medicated mouthwash
- Visit a dentist every six months
- Cut down on sugary foods
- Keep your mouth hydrated
- Quit tobacco products
I want to have healthy gums. What next?
Biggio Dental Care has extensive skills and experience in periodontal maintenance. If you want to achieve optimal gum health in Baton Rouge, LA, and its surrounding locations, call (225) 314-6995 to schedule an appointment today.