Your gums are vital, supporting your teeth and keeping your smile full. But when issues like gingivitis and gum disease develop, this could lead to discomfort and even tooth loss. Which is why we want to help you maintain good periodontal health. In today’s blog, your Ankeny, IA, dentist talks about improving your periodontal health at home and in our office!
The Impact of Poor Gum Health
When your gums become inflamed, also known as gingivitis, this could lead to soreness and even redness in the tissues. Without treatment, the inflammation could increase and the gums could pull away from the teeth to form deep pockets. As this happens, harmful disease-causing bacteria can enter the pockets to cause periodontal disease. Once you have gum disease there is no cure, and treatment is crucial for managing it to prevent periodontitis, the stage linked to adult tooth loss. You could experience bleeding when you brush and floss, and recession that makes teeth appear longer than usual. If you experience any changes to your gums, please reach out to our team right away!
Periodontal Cleanings
Our team will conduct an examination to see if you have gingivitis or gum disease. If so, we can help with a scaling and root planing. This procedure can help reverse gingivitis and is key for managing periodontal disease to keep your smile whole. Essentially, we will use an ultrasonic scaling device, which emits gentle vibrations, to remove plaque and tartar from the teeth. We also remove buildup from the exposed portions of the roots and from beneath the gums too. This helps control inflammation and destroy harmful pockets of bacteria. The procedure could take one visit or up to four, and we will numb your smile beforehand. We then polish the teeth afterward to help better control buildup and brighten your smile. Follow-up routine cleanings every three to four months may be recommended too.
Improving Your Homecare Habits
You can also help improve your periodontal health with routine oral hygiene habits. For example, make time to brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes, once when you wake up and again before you go to bed. Be sure you use a fluoride toothpaste each time! You also need to floss to extract the bits of food caught between the teeth and along the gum line. We suggest reducing how much sugar and starch is in your diet, and avoid tobacco products!
Dental Impressions Offers Better Periodontal Health
We want to provide treatment to help prevent or manage common concerns like gingivitis and gum disease. To schedule your appointment and learn more about improving the health of your gums, then call Dental Impressions in Ankeny, IA today at (515) 965-0230.
