How is gum disease prevented?
The best treatment for gum disease is actually prevention, and because gum disease starts with easily removable plaque, prevention is entirely possible with thorough brushing and flossing at home and regular checkups and cleanings with Dr. Adli.
If you have any questions about how you can improve your at-home care, be sure to ask Dr. Adli or your hygienist at your next cleaning.
How is early gum disease treated?
If Dr. Adli catches your gum disease in its earlier stages, she might be able to reverse its progression with standard dental cleanings. Using professional dental tools, she removes the plaque from your teeth and the tartar beneath your gumline that irritates and infects your gums.
A successful deep cleaning of your tooth surfaces — both above and below the gumline — allows your gums to eventually get back to a healthy state, provided you keep up with regular brushing and flossing at home.
Dr. Adli also provides her patients with professional-strength at-home products to help keep your plaque at bay and improve the health of your gums, like prescription-strength PreviDent® 5000 toothpaste and Oxyfresh® mouthwashes.
How is advanced gum disease treated?
If your gum disease is in its more advanced stages, like periodontitis, you might need a stronger treatment to restore your oral health. Some of the treatments for advanced gum disease include:
Scaling and root planing
Scaling is a deep cleaning done with a local anesthetic that eliminates the plaque and tartar buildup from both above and below your gum line, effectively removing your gums’ irritant.
Root planing is a procedure where your dentist smooths down the root surfaces of your teeth. This makes it more difficult for plaque and tartar to build up but also gives your gums a smooth surface to more easily reattach to if they’ve begun to recede.
Antibiotics
Dr. Adli might suggest using topical and/or oral antibiotics to control the bacterial infection in your gum tissue, giving your gums a chance to regenerate and heal.
Soft tissue grafts
If your gum disease has caused significant gum recession, a soft tissue graft can cover your exposed roots, reinforce your gum tissue, and prevent further recession.
A sample of tissue is taken from elsewhere in your mouth (typically the roof of your mouth) and is attached to your areas of recession.
Don’t let your gum disease get worse. Schedule a visit with Dr. Adli today by calling the office or booking online.
