Gum Diseases and Non-surgical Gum Therapies

If your gums have the tendency of bleeding when you brush or floss, there are good chances that you might be suffering from gum disease. Gum disease is a dental condition caused when the sticky invisible bacteria known as plaque builds up on your mouth.

If you don’t get rid of plaque through proper brushing and flossing, it can build up and cause inflammation of the gums. This stage where the gums bleed easily and become inflamed is known as gingivitis. The good news for you is that gingivitis can be reversed through undertaking good oral hygiene measures.

If gingivitis is not treated early enough, it can progress and turn into periodontal disease. At this stage, the infection begins to break down your bone tissue and the gums, forming pockets in between your teeth. Bacteria and food particles become trapped in these pockets thus causing the problem to worsen even further.

There are two different methods a dentist can use to treat gum disease. These are surgical and non-surgical methods. The surgical method is mostly used to treat advanced gum disease while non-surgical methods can be used to treat early forms of gum disease.

This article takes a closer look at the available non-surgical gum therapies that can be used to treat gum disease.

Scaling and Root Planning

One of the most vital aspects of gum disease treatment is to get rid of pathogenic bacteria and the acid they produce from the surfaces of the teeth. This is best done through a dental deep cleaning procedure known as scaling and root planning. Scaling involves getting rid of plaque and tartar from the surface of the teeth and above and below the gum line. On the other hand, root planning involves smoothing of the tooth-root surfaces. This makes it harder for bacteria to adhereto.

Antibiotics/Antimicrobials

As gum disease progresses and becomes severe, bone loss and periodontal pockets can result in forming some tiny, hard to reach areas. Such areas can be quite difficult to reach using handled instruments. In such a case, it can be necessary to disinfect these areas with a prescription antimicrobial rinse or a topical antibiotic. As much as they are helpful when it comes to killing harmful bacteria that cause periodontal disease, there are only used for a short period. This is because it is not desirable to kill some beneficial oral bacteria in the mouth.

Bite Adjustment

Your dentist may need to protect your teeth from the stress of biting and chewing if some of your teeth are loose. Bite therapy helps to restore a bite that can function without any destruction or damage. This procedure helps particularly if you have teeth clenching and grinding habits. Through bite adjustment, your dentist can reshape the tooth surfaces to change the way the upper and lower jaw contact with each other. He/she can also join your teeth together with a plastic brace or a small metal so that they can provide support to each other.

Bottom Line: We Can Help Provide Your Non-Surgical Gum Disease Therapy

We at Springvale Dental Clinic are ready to help treat your gum disease and help you maintain a healthy smile. Visit us as soon as you notice any early signs of gum disease. For some patients, it can be noticing that they gums are red and puffy while for others it can be noticing some blood every time they brush or floss. Schedule an appointment with us,at our practice, and we will be happy to help you achieve good oral health.