Overcome Gum Disease with Non-surgical yet Effective Periodontal Gum Treatments

You probably know that bacteria can thrive in many places, but can it grow in your mouth? Yes, your mouth is home to billions of bacteria. While many of these bacteria are good, some can cause gum disease, damaging your gingival tissues and the surrounding structures.

Have you noticed blood spots when brushing? Do you have swollen gums? You should be worried because these are classic symptoms of periodontal disease. Because gum disease can cause irreversible damage to your smile, schedule an appointment with Rolling Oaks Dental immediately if you suspect gum infection. Drs. Larry Dougherty and Hania Alkudmani offer scaling, root planing, and other treatments to restore total gum health.

Gum disease explained

Gum disease occurs when plaque — a mixture of food debris, saliva, and harmful bacteria — irritates the gums and the surrounding tissues. Gum disease occurs in stages, with the earliest stage being gingivitis. Gingivitis only affects the gums; its symptoms include gum swelling, bleeding, and redness. 

If left untreated, gingivitis progresses into periodontitis, which causes gums to pull away from the teeth. This gum recession forms deep pockets along the gum line, causing tartar and bad bacteria to damage the gum-supporting ligaments. Besides receding gums, periodontitis causes bad breath, tooth sensitivity, and painful chewing. 

Gum disease is unforgiving when you fail to treat it. Untreated periodontitis damages teeth-supporting bone, causing loose teeth and an uneven bite. Worse yet, harmful bacteria can seep into the bloodstream, damaging vital organs like the heart, kidney, and liver.

Gum disease treatment

At its earliest stage, gum disease can be reversed with diligent brushing, flossing, and oral rinsing. Your bi-annual professional cleanings now become 3-month cleanings to monitor your progress. Besides cleanings, we recommend a tongue scraper to keep bad bacteria under control.

However, you may need the treatments below if you have moderate to advanced gum disease.

• Periodontal cleaning: Also known as deep teeth cleaning, this non-invasive treatment involves two procedures: scaling and root planing. Scaling eliminates dental calculus and harmful bacteria below and above the gum line using hand instruments and ultrasonic devices. Root planing smoothes the rough edges of the roots to discourage bacteria growth.
• Antibiotic therapy: Topical and oral antibiotics help eliminate gum disease-causing bacteria.

When gum disease “eats away” your bone and gum tissues, you need advanced treatments, including gum flap surgery and bone and soft tissue grafting. Our dental team will guide you every step of the way to ensure your gums get to a healthy, natural pink color. 

Effective periodontal maintenance near me

Rolling Oaks Dental offers periodontal dental care in Garden Ridge, TX, and its environs to keep your smile infection-free. To benefit from our services, please call (210) 880-2229 to talk to our dental team.