Periodontics is a long word which refers to the methods we use to treat gum disease. Unfortunately gum disease is far more common than most people believe. And many people don’t even know they have gum disease. Further, gum disease is very treatable, but if you don’t treat it, that can lead to advanced periodontal disease.
Signs You May Have Gum Disease
- When you brush or floss your gums become red or bleed
- You feel pain when you eat or bite
- Your gums are tender, swollen and/or puffy
- Halitosis (bad breath) or a bad taste in your mouth
- Gums pulling or receding away from teeth
How We Can Help
At Matus Family Dentistry, we want to take care of gum disease before it becomes a dangerous situation. To start with, more frequent cleanings (every 3-4 months) can help reverse gum disease. At these cleanings we’ll perform a scaling and root planing process, removing plaque and tartar from your teeth. This helps your gums to heal and reattach to your teeth.
We may also prescribe or recommend mouth rinses or pills to help control or reduce infection and speed healing. We’ll also schedule a follow up visit where we’ll check to see how your gums are healing and determine whether further action is necessary.
What You Can Do
- Brush morning and night, and after every meal
- Floss nightly
- Consistently keep your dental appointments (a cleaning/exam at least every six months)
Finally, if you suspect you DO Have gum disease, don’t panic. Instead, take proactive measures to reverse it. Gum disease, if untreated, can progress into periodontal disease which could mean you will lose some of your teeth. However, we can help you heal your gum disease by giving your teeth a deep cleaning and helping you to develop better oral hygiene habits. Give us a call and let’s get started on healing those gums!