Did you know that if you have periodontal disease and do not receive care to manage it, this could lead to missing teeth? Scary, but true. However, we can help manage the issue with periodontal services, keeping your smile whole. In today’s blog, your team at Lake Orion Family Dentistry in Lake Orion, MI, talks about avoiding tooth loss by seeking care for your gum disease, so you can enjoy a beautiful and stable smile, one free of issues like inflammation, bleeding, and tooth loss.
When to Seek Periodontal Services
When should you see our team to discuss your gum health? We recommend treatment when you begin to exhibit the common warning signs of gum disease, as even minor changes to your gums could spell trouble unless addressed with periodontic treatment! For example, if you have soreness and redness in the gums, this could indicate gingivitis or the early stages of the disease. If you have bleeding when you brush or floss, or recession that makes teeth appear longer than usual, then you should see our team right away. Otherwise, you could risk more severe complications, including adult tooth loss! Don’t ignore these symptoms, even if they are minor at first. The earlier we address the issue, the better.
Causes and Risks
What causes periodontal disease to form? The issue could start when various factors cause the gums to become inflamed. For example, plaque and tartar buildup, itself the result of a diet high in sugar and poor brushing and flossing habits, could lead to gum inflammation. You could also have a higher risk due to inflammatory illnesses like diabetes, tobacco use, or even a family history of poor periodontal health. Lack of professional cleanings every six months could also leave your smile vulnerable to periodontal disease.
Without treatment to manage the disease, it could grow in severity until it reaches a stage known as periodontitis, at which point the tissues connecting your teeth and gums could be severed. This could cause loose and missing teeth. In fact, periodontitis is the number one cause of adult tooth loss! But our team can help manage the issue and keep your smile whole.
A Deep Cleaning
Often, we can manage inflammation and disease with a scaling and root planing, also known as a deep cleaning. With this procedure we will thoroughly remove all plaque and tartar from the teeth and the exposed roots, and from under the gums as well. We do so with an ultrasonic scaling device, which emits gentle vibrations to remove the layers. We then follow this with a manual pick for any stubborn portions of tartar. The last step is to polish the teeth for a brighter appearance, and to make it more difficult for plaque and tartar to cling to the teeth.
Our team will then follow up the procedure with routine cleanings every three to four months to remove harmful buildup and keep the inflammation under control. We also discuss better homecare routines to control the issue and safeguard your smile against disease and tooth loss!
Management from Home
At home, you can help deny harmful bacteria of a meal and control inflammation by limiting your consumption of sugary foods and drinks. You should also brush your teeth for two minutes when you wake up, and then do so again before going to bed, using a fluoride toothpaste each time to keep your enamel strong. We also urge patients to floss every evening before they brush that second time to remove what a toothbrush alone cannot reach. Try to avoid tobacco products too!
If you have any questions about how we protect the health, appearance, and stability of your smile with our periodontal services, or if you have sore and bleeding gums that need attention, then contact our team to learn more and get started on your treatment journey. We want to help protect smiles of all ages from serious concerns, keeping them whole and healthy, all with a safe and holistic approach using minimally-invasive and lifelike materials when possible!
Lake Orion Family Dentistry Offers Periodontal Services
We are ready to help improve your smile’s health so you avoid issues like tooth loss! Periodontal services can help reverse significant so manage gum disease to protect your smile from an array of serious complications, including disease and tooth loss. To find out more about boosting your overall oral health, or to schedule an appointment, call Lake Orion Family Dentistry in Lake Orion, MI at (248)693-6213. You and your family deserve to enjoy good oral health and smiles that can truly last, and we are ready to help!
