What is Periodontal Gum Disease?
Periodontal disease is very common in adults. It is caused by all of the bacteria in our mouth that forms form plaque on our teeth. Without routine brushing and flossing, it continues to build up, forming tartar.
People with periodontal disease can have red and swollen gums that often bleed quite easily. It may be hard to eat because their teeth are so sensitive. They may be missing teeth. Some people with periodontal disease have very bad breath.
We diagnose periodontal disease by examining your teeth. We also use a probe to look for any problem areas. X-rays are also necessary to diagnose the disease.
A good professional cleaning is necessary to remove the tartar from your mouth and underneath your gums. If your periodontal disease is bad, you may need to follow up your brushing and flossing with antibacterial mouthrinse. You may even need to use an antibacterial gel or start on oral antibiotics to help to get rid of the disease. Sometimes surgery is necessary to help with the deep pockets of infection.
Once your periodontal disease is under control, good home care with brushing and flossing should help to keep it from coming back.
Periodontal Disease Maintenance
Periodontal maintenance is a procedure that is done to clean your teeth thoroughly. It is very important to stop periodontal disease from getting any worse.
Periodontal maintenance cleans any tartar and plaque buildup on your teeth. It helps your teeth to look better and will also improve your breath!
During a maintenance cleaning, we remove any tartar and plaque buildup above and below your gums. This includes your gum pockets and underneath your gum line. We also remove bacteria. In bad cases of periodontal disease, we may medicate your teeth (and gum pockets) with an antibiotic or antimicrobial gel. We also use this time to take radiographs and get a clear view of your teeth and gums.