One of the consequences of poor oral hygiene is gum disease. Gum disease can be difficult to detect in its early stages due to typically painless symptoms. Many adults fail to realize they have gum disease until it has progressed into advanced stages.
The first stage of gum disease is gingivitis, which can cause the gums to become swollen, inflamed, or bleed easily when brushing of flossing. The inflammation is caused by the plaque and tartar buildup between your gums and teeth. As the gingivitis gets worse, your gum tissues will gradually recede and pull back. This can cause pockets to form between the teeth. As the tissues continue to deteriorate, the teeth may become loose or fall out.
The recommended way to prevent gum disease is to maintain your oral hygiene. By brushing and flossing your teeth with a regular regimen, you help remove the plaque buildup that can cause your gums to become infected. In addition, certain dietary changes can help with your oral health. However, if your gum disease has progressed to more serious stages, it can typically be treated with non-surgical gum therapy.
Non-surgical gum therapy uses a number of non-surgical techniques to eradicate the harmful toxins infecting your gums and teeth. These include curettage, which is the process of removing infected gum tissues surrounding your teeth. Once the diseased tissue is removed, healthy gums can grow in their place. Root planing is another technique that we use which smoothes the diseased root surfaces. These two techniques are often performed at the same time during your procedures. Your Forest Hill dentist will likely have to perform multiple treatments and monitor your condition to ensure that your gums make a suitable recovery.
If you have any questions about these treatments, or if you are concerned you have gum disease, contact Dr. Paul Deratnay or set up an appointment.