Periodontal Disease Smiles Plus

Periodontal disease can lead to many problems.

Periodontal disease, at its worst, can cause tooth and bone loss and it can be quite painful when it is severe. But even in mild cases, it can cause problems, such as bad breath or bleeding gums. Your smile may be affected, because your inflamed gums may become red and swollen.

Additionally, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) reports that periodontal disease may be a factor in other health conditions, including stroke, diabetes, and heart disease. This is because bacteria in the gums can travel to other parts of the body, causing infection and inflammation.

There are several risk factors that make people more likely to develop periodontal disease at some point including poor dental hygiene, genetics, certain illnesses, smoking, and teeth grinding.

The good news is, you can alleviate, prevent, and often reverse gum disease with the right treatment and maintenance. If you have serious periodontitis that has progressed to the point of bone or tooth loss, you won’t be able to regrow that bone or generate a new tooth. You can still, however, greatly improve the health of your gums and rejuvenate your oral health.

The first steps to take are to have a consultation with us at See Me Smile Dental in Santa Barbara, California. We will do a thorough exam and take X-rays to gauge the health of your teeth, gums, and bones. We will also measure the depths of your gum pockets. Then, depending on the health of your gums, we will come up with a treatment plan.

Typically, periodontal patients need special deep “periodontal” teeth cleanings from either three to four times a year, when it is acute, to twice a year for maintenance. If your gum pockets are deep and infected, we may recommend a special deep teeth cleaning and root scaling that requires some local anesthetic. This will clean the deep rooted tartar and plaque that is causing the gum inflammation and infection.

Once we have set the foundation for your gum health with a professional cleaning, you need to take over with maintaining your teeth and gum health at home. It’s not that hard to do!

The most important thing you should do to help prevent and recover from gum disease is to properly brush and floss your teeth.

The best, cheapest, and easiest way to maintain healthy teeth and gums is proper daily self-maintenance at home, combined with regular professional cleanings at See Me Smile Dental. These two things will reduce your risk of tooth loss, which can be a consequence of advanced gum disease.

• Time for Cleaning: You should make sure you clean your teeth for 2 minutes each time you brush. Plan to spend 30 seconds on each “quadrant” (upper left, lower left, upper right, lower right). Electric toothbrushes often have timers to help you brush long enough.
• Toothbrush Pressure and Position: Angle your toothbrush at 45 degrees to reach all areas of the tooth and gum line. Don’t press too hard – over brushing can also irritate the gums.
• Where to Brush: Make sure you brush the insides as well as outsides of your teeth. Gently brush against the gum line, but don’t put too much pressure on the gums. You should also brush your tongue to remove bacteria and food particles, from back to front.

Once you are done flossing, you should use an antibacterial mouthwash to rinse your mouth. You can also use diluted hydrogen peroxide – mix some hydrogen peroxide (the kind you get from the drugstore) with an equal amount of water and swish for 30 seconds.

In addition to regular flossing and brushing, keep your gums healthy with healthy habits. These include:

• Better diet: Eating too much sugar or drinking sugary sodas won’t help your gums. A balanced diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, and healthy nutrients can positively impact your gum health.
• Stop smoking: As mentioned above, any kind of smoking can aggravate the gums.
• Reduce stress: Being stressed out puts a stress on the immune system too. Set aside time for rest and relaxation, or use mindfulness techniques to keep a cool head.