Periodontics focuses on diagnosing and treating gum disease. Gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease, and it often leads to symptoms like receding, tender, and inflamed gum tissues.
Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is caused by oral bacteria infecting the gum tissues. This occurs when plaque and tartar made by oral bacteria start to accumulate on the teeth roots and gum pockets. When left untreated, gingivitis evolves into periodontitis, the more advanced stage of gum disease. Periodontitis is the top reason for adult tooth loss.
Periodontics uses treatments like root scaling and planing to treat gum disease. Gingivitis is a reversible condition, so early diagnosis goes a long way. Treatments that a dentist might recommend to treat gingivitis include the following.
Improving a patient’s oral hygiene is often enough to help reverse gingivitis. Good oral hygiene includes brushing at least two times a day and flossing at least once.
Brushing helps remove plaque, bacteria, and acids from teeth surfaces and gum tissues. Flossing does the same for interdental spaces. Dentists recommend cleaning the mouth right before going to bed because this is the most vulnerable period for teeth. Saliva helps keep teeth and gums clean, but its production slows down during sleep. This creates an opportunity for bacteria to attack teeth and gum tissues.
Brushing before going to bed gets rid of the fuel that oral bacteria need to wreak havoc in the mouth. Patients committed to improving their oral hygiene can reverse gingivitis and restore their oral health.
Oral bacteria in the mouth create plaque, a sticky film that contains bacteria and the acids that they make. Plaque is what makes a person's mouth feel sticky when they wake up in the morning or after a nap. It can be removed by brushing to minimizes the damage that it causes in the mouth. However, plaque left on teeth for more than 24 hours hardens into tartar.
Tartar also contains bacteria and the acids that they make, but these deposits cannot be removed by brushing or flossing teeth. Tartar can also get into gum pockets, triggering an infection there.
A teeth cleaning can be performed to remove plaque and tartar from teeth surfaces. It is typically used as a preventative treatment, but it can also treat gum disease. The American Dental Association recommends getting teeth cleaned at least two times a year. Patients with gingivitis might have to go in for cleanings more frequently.
A deep cleaning is a more comprehensive version of a conventional teeth cleaning. It involves removing tartar and plaque from teeth surfaces and their roots. Teeth roots are also polished during the procedure to make it harder for tartar deposits to form on them. Deep cleanings can be performed as a treatment for gingivitis or periodontitis.
Our dentist can help you reverse gingivitis by performing these treatments. Call or visit our Torrance clinic to set up a periodontics appointment.
Request an appointment here: https://smilewellsouthbay.com or call SmileWell Family Dentistry at (310) 904-6375 for an appointment in our Torrance office.
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