Just as your home needs a solid foundation, so does your smile. Your teeth are supported by an infrastructure of gum tissue and bone. These need to be healthy in order for you to have a smile that is both strong and beautiful. Unfortunately, your gums and the underlying bone structure can be threatened by gum disease, a chronic bacterial infection that initiates an inflammatory response that can be destructive. To treat gum disease, Waverly, NE, comes to Dr. Vacek and the staff at Amberly Dental for scaling and root planing.
How Gum Disease Begins
The human mouth is filled with millions of bacteria. Some are essential to the process of digestion. However, without good oral hygiene that includes daily brushing and flossing as well as regular dental checkups with Dr. Vacek, these bacteria can multiply. More often than not, gum disease, also called periodontal disease, happens as a result of plaque buildup; bacteria thrive in plaque, which often accumulates along the gum line and even under your gums. Thus, daily plaque removal is essential in order to also remove the bacteria that can lead to gum disease.
What are the Signs of Gum Disease?
Dentists divide gum disease into two phases. The early stage is called gingivitis and the latter stage is called periodontitis. Gums that are red and swollen most commonly signal gingivitis, and they may also bleed when you brush and particularly when you floss. If not caught at this point, then gingivitis advances to become periodontitis, with signs that include:
- Persistent bad breath
- Enlarged gum pockets around your teeth
- Receding gums
- Shifting or loose teeth
- Pus between your teeth
At its worst, periodontitis may necessitate tooth extraction.
How Can I Get Rid of Gum Disease?
Unfortunately, gum disease never really goes away—in other words, this is a disease that is not curable. However, it is treatable and quite manageable. During scaling and root planing, a dental hygienist removes plaque and tartar—a hard substance that develops when plaque remains on your teeth for a lengthy time—from above and below the gum line of the roots of your teeth. Then, planing smoothes root surfaces, making them less receptive to sticky plaque and tartar. After an initial deep cleaning like this, regularly scheduled periodontal maintenance appointments may be necessary to keep gum disease in check. And of course, stringent oral cleaning at home is essential, too.
Call Our Office Today
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms of gum disease mentioned above, then call Amberly Dental to schedule an appointment.Our office serves Waverly and nearby Lincoln, as well as Greenwood, Davey, Ashland, Ceresco, and surrounding areas.