When you have poor gum health, this could mean major trouble for your smile. After all, these tissues frame your smile and keep your teeth in place. With periodontal care, we can help safeguard your smile against periodontal disease. In today’s blog, your El Paso, TX, dentists talk about protecting your periodontal health.
Why Your Gums Matter
Your gums keep your smile whole, so poor health could eventually lead to a late stage of periodontal disease known as periodontitis. At this stage, the tissues connecting your teeth and gums are severed, which leads to adult tooth loss and in fact, is the most common cause of missing teeth in adults. The problem starts with inflammation, or gingivitis, in which your gums begin to look red, feel sore, or bleed easily. Without care to reverse it, this could cause the tissue to pull away from the teeth and form deep pockets for certain harmful bacteria to infiltrate. Once periodontal disease forms, there is no cure but treatment to manage it could keep your smile whole and comfortable!
Dental and Periodontal Cleanings
If you attend dental cleanings every six months, our team will thoroughly remove all plaque and tartar buildup with an ultrasonic scaling device, and a manual pick too. Removing plaque and tartar helps prevent inflammation and periodontal disease, so your gingival tissues stay healthy and strong. But if you already have gingivitis or the early stages of disease, we may recommend another preventive cleaning. A deep cleaning, also known as a scaling and root planing, allows our team to remove buildup from both the teeth and the roots. This could take one visit or up to four, depending on the severity of your plaque and tartar. We will administer a numbing agent to keep you comfortable, and we will polish the teeth afterward. This helps manage the disease moving forward with traditional cleanings every three to four months.
Better Homecare Habits
You could also take steps from home to prevent gingivitis and periodontal disease, or to help manage the issue to keep your smile strong in between six month office visits. You should brush your teeth with a fluoride toothpaste in the morning and again at night, for two minutes each session. You should be sure to brush along the gum line gently each time too. Flossing every evening is essential too, and you should dip below the gum line each time you floss alongside a tooth.
TALK TO SUNNY SMILES IN EL PASO, TX, ABOUT PROTECTING YOUR GUMS
With a strong and healthy smile, you can avoid tooth loss and painful symptoms. If you’re ready to schedule a visit with our team, contact our Sunny Smiles location on N Zaragoza Rd in El Paso, TX at 915-849-9000.