When you suffer from poor periodontal health, including the presence of gingivitis and gum disease, this could lead to painful symptoms and even the loss of natural teeth! Fortunately, we can use periodontic care to protect your smile and manage the disease. In today’s blog, your Kansas City, MO, dentist talks about improving your periodontal health.
The Causes and Warning Signs of Gingivitis
Everything starts with gingival inflammation, which can occur due to poor oral hygiene habits. Improper brushing and flossing and infrequent checkups and cleanings can allow plaque and tartar buildup to grow more severe. Other factors include cigarettes and tobacco use, the use of specific medications, inflammatory illnesses, or a family history of periodontal problems. Gingivitis, or gum inflammation, could mean sore, red, and bleeding gum tissues. Without treatment at this stage, the smile is susceptible to periodontal disease.
The Risks of Periodontal Disease
In the gingivitis stage, the inflammation can be reversed with care. But once pockets form at the gum line and bacteria infiltrates them, then the disease develops. There is no cure, but the disease can be managed with regular care, which prevents the later stages like periodontitis, which could cause tooth loss. While we have care to manage these concerns, you should take measures to avoid them. Avoid tobacco products, brush and floss daily without exception, and find time to see us for checkups and cleanings, so we can remove all plaque and tartar. These actions not only help fight inflammation, but can prevent tooth decay, bad breath, and even teeth stains. We can discuss proper care for your smile, so you can safeguard your teeth and gums.
Treatment Options
A deep cleaning, also known as a scaling and root planing, can help reverse gingivitis or begin managing gum disease by removing all buildup from the teeth and roots. This could take one visit, or up to four, and we will administer a local anesthetic to keep you comfortable throughout the procedure. We then polish the teeth afterward. A routine cleaning every three to four months will help manage the disease. For more severe cases, we could help treat and restore the smile with bone and soft tissue grafts, flap surgery, and guided tissue regeneration.
If you have any questions about how we treat issues like periodontal disease and protect the stability of your smile, then contact our team today to learn more. We want to help you enjoy good oral health and full smiles for years to come!
Your Kansas City, MO, Dentist Offers Periodontic Care
Our team is ready to help you maintain a whole and healthy smile. If you would like to learn about maintaining good gum health, then contact your Kansas City, MO, dentist, Dr. Murphy, by calling (816) 531-8000.
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