4 Simple Steps to Fighting Gum Disease

Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease or gingivitis, is the most common non-communicable diseases in the United States. About 60 million Americans have some degree of gum disease. If red, inflamed and bleeding gums aren’t treated, in the initial stages, the infecting bacteria can do major damage to the soft tissue and bones and potentially resulting in tooth loss. Fortunately, gum disease can be prevented and treated with better daily dental hygiene practices. Being aggressive in treating gum disease is important to prevent it from advancing from gingivitis to full blown periodontitis. What are the warning signs of gum disease? There are a number of signs that can warn you that you are developing gum disease. The best way to find out is to see your dentist regularly. If you experience any of these warning signs, call your anchorage dentist to schedule an appointment. InflammationrnSwollen gumsrnRedness in the gumsrnGums that bleed easily - especially when brushing and flossingrnA receding gum linernMouth soresrnChronic bad breath How Can you Treat Gum Disease? With these 4 simple steps, you can attack gum disease from home even before you get in for an appointment or checkup. Brush your teeth for two to three minutes twice a day. Once in the morning and once at night is the best time. Most dentists recommend using an electric toothbrush and a timer to ensure you are brushing each part of the mouth properly. rnFloss your teeth once a day. Leftover food particles that sit between teeth and on the gums can build up and form plaque and eventually harden in tartar. Bacteria feed on plaque and tartar and grow and gum disease is the result. For fighting gum disease, flossing is essential. rnUse an alcohol-free mouthwash. Alcohol dries the mouth out by causing the body to not produce as much saliva. Lack of saliva can lead to increased levels of bacteria which can actually make gingivitis worse. rnEat your vegetables. Vegetables have a high water content, which can stimulate the flow of saliva. Saliva helps to protect your teeth from decay and bacteria by reducing acidity levels in the mouth affected by acidic food and drinks. Doing these thing on a regular basis, even if you have no signs of gingivitis at all, can help keep gum disease from developing. I think I have gum disease, should I see a dentist? Yes. One of our dentists will examine your mouth and confirm whether or not you have periodontal disease and how severe it is. Once a diagnosis has been confirmed, then a treatment plan will be developed that may include: Root planing and scaling to remove plaque and tartar from below the gumlinernInstructions on proper flossing techniquesrnFollow-up visits to monitor progressrnAntibiotics to kill the bacteriarnSoft tissue grafting (later stages)rnExtraction (later stages) You will also need to visit one of our hygienists for regular dental cleanings to remove plaque and tartar buildup. Normally, these cleanings are recommended twice a year, but you may be asked to come in more often to ensure that the better hygiene regimen is working.. Root planing and scaling is performed by the dentist. This is usually done under a local and intravenous sedation. During this procedure, tartar is scraped from the teeth below the gumline and any rough spots where bacteria have eating away at your teeth. With the rough spots smoothed down and the bacteria cleaned away, and the gums can reattach themselves to the teeth. More involved surgical treatments may be necessary, but are used only in severe cases where deep cleanings and other methods haven’t worked.