10/23/2021
Do your gums bleed when brushing or flossing, do you have malodor or loss teeth? These are signs of periodontal disease or "gum disease.
"What is periodontal disease? Periodontal disease, otherwise known as gum disease, is a bacterial infection of the bone supporting your teeth and the gums. This infection is persistent. Any of these signs may indicate you have the disease:
Gums that are red, tender and swollen
Bleeding of gums after flossing or brushing
Bad breath that is persistent
Experiencing pain during chewing
Loose teeth
There are many factors that may cause gum disease, including genetics, diabetes, smoking and hormonal changes. Our Doctors and Dental Hygienists can carry out quick tests to determine whether you have gum disease. They do this by measuring the gum pockets. If your pockets are at least 5mm deep, then you have the infection. If you are found to have the disease, your teeth may be thoroughly cleaned. Alternatively, you may undergo periodontal surgery. After these treatments, your doctor may recommend periodontal maintenance. Periodontal maintenance refers to a procedure carried out to clean your teeth thoroughly. Maintenance is crucial as it prevents periodontal disease from spreading. Bacteria produced by plaque may colonize on the gum tissue resulting in gingivitis and periodontal disease. The colonies cause irritation and inflammation, which create an inflammatory response inside the body. Consequently, the body starts destroying bone and gum tissue causing the teeth to fall out, shift or become unstable. The voids between the teeth and gums deepen, and more bacteria accumulate inside. The bacteria travel through the bloodstream, causing infections to other body parts.
Why Is Periodontal Maintenance Important?
The prophylaxis procedure helps keep your mouth in excellent health. It also stops gum disease from progressing. Here are some reasons to have it:
Removal of Tar
If left unattended to, plaque and tar buildup can cause bigger periodontal problems in future. Flossing and brushing your teeth doesn’t remove all bacteria, debris and the deposits from your gum pockets. This is why it is so important to follow up with 3 to 4 month maintenace appointments.
The Periodontal treatment is carried out in stages:
Supragingival Cleaning: The region above your gum line is thoroughly cleaned by your dentist to get rid of calculus and plaque. Scaling tools are used in this stage.
Subgingival Cleaning: For most periodontal disease patients, this is a vital stage. It involves removing bacteria and calculus below your gum line and from gum pockets.
Root Planing: In this stage, the dental hygienist smooths the root of your tooth to remove any bacteria that may be left. These are hazardous bacteria, so getting rid of them is your specialist’s top priority.
Medication: After both root planing and scaling have been carried out, your doctor may place an antimicrobial or antibiotic cream in your gum pockets. These treatments promote healthy and fast healing. They also ease discomfort.
X-rays and Examinations: Routine x-rays help the dentist see the progression of gum and bone recession.
We recommended using an electric toothbrush, and water p*k daily to help with plaque control.
It is good to visit your dentist at least thrice a year for periodontal maintenance. Studies indicate that after cleaning, bacteria will form on the gums and teeth almost immediately. Removing the bacteria beneath the gum line frequently can help control inflammation. Though it is not possible to completely reverse gum disease, periodontal maintenance can be used to halt its progress.
Remember, your overall oral health dictates your overall body health!
