HOW TO PROTECT YOUR ORAL HEALTH

How to protect your oral heath – prevent and treat gum disease in smyrna

Dr. Lamothe is well known for providing high quality, advanced oral health care at Smyrna Dental in Smyrna, GA. Many patients come to us asking how to treat gum disease. The answer will vary, depending on the severity of the condition, and the person’s overall oral health. However, one bit of advice applies universally to everyone: if you have gum disease, seek treatment as soon as possible. Even better, if you have healthy gums, protect and preserve them.

HOW GUM DISEASE PROGRESSES

Gum disease does not have a sudden onset. Instead, it develops very gradually. Yet, it still catches many people by surprise. That is because gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease, is virtually symptomless. The gum tissue becomes inflamed, but it is not painful. Slight puffiness, discoloration, or bleeding easily are typically the first signs, but they often go unnoticed.

Despite the deceptively mild symptoms, gum disease wreaks havoc with oral and overall health. It is an infection of the periodontal tissue, which first affects the gums and causes them to pull away from teeth, creating pockets. Bacteria and biofilm accumulation in the pockets allow the infection to spread deeper, impacting periodontal ligaments and bone. Eventually, severe gum disease can cause tooth loss. It has also been linked to a host of medical conditions such as stroke, heart attack, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease.

PREVENTION AND EARLY DIAGNOSIS

How can you protect yourself from a disease so insidiously destructive?

The first and best line of defense is prevention. Good hygiene habits and good dental care form the foundation of great oral health.
When brushing and flossing, be sure to clean all the way to the gumline. However, avoid hard-bristled brushes or overly aggressive brushing.
Watch for subtle signs, such as a little blood in the sink after you brush.
Don’t skip hygiene appointments. Professional cleaning often removes tartar before gum disease has a chance to take hold. If there is a problem, the trained eye of a dentist or hygienist can spot it early.
Don’t delay treatment. In the mildest cases, gum disease can often be reversed with a thorough cleaning by your hygienist, followed by diligent home care.

SCALING AND ROOT PLANING – THE GOLD STANDARD TREATMENT

If you have deep pockets around your teeth, standard cleaning techniques are not sufficient to remove biofilm and bacteria. In this case, Dr. Lamothe will likely recommend scaling and root planing, which is a much deeper and more powerful cleaning protocol.

The Journal of Evidenced-Based Dental Practice calls scaling and root planning the gold standard of treatment for chronic periodontitis. According to a research review published in the Journal of the American Dental Association, 72 separate journal articles reported an average pocket depth reduction of one-half millimeter after complete scaling and root planing treatment.

It is a nonsurgical outpatient procedure. In most cases, only one appointment is needed. However, sometimes it will take two or more visits to thoroughly clean all affected teeth. We begin with preparation, which may include local anesthetic for your comfort. The procedure is performed in two parts:

Tooth scaling – The first step is scraping all plaque and tartar from the tooth surface, using specialized instruments. We treat the entire exposed surface, which may extend well below the gumline.
Root planing – Once scaling is complete, the clinician will focus on the tooth root. The goal of this step is to smooth the root. Textural irregularities such as rough patches and tiny pits can accumulate plaque and bacteria. A clean and smooth surface makes it harder for harmful biofilm to accumulate, but easier for tissue reattachment to occur.

In order to bring gum disease under control, we need to clear up the infection. Usually this can be accomplished by controlling plaque and tartar buildup, using methods described above. However, in some cases we also need the power of antibiotic medication. Depending on the situation, the doctor may prescribe oral antibiotics or apply a topical formula.

OPTIMIZE YOUR ORAL HEALTH

Are you past due for a dental checkup? Do you have signs of gum disease? For these or any other oral health concerns, give us a call at (678) 374-3764 and schedule an appointment today.