GUM DISEASE THERAPY
Gum Disease Therapy
Gum disease therapy, also called “periodontal care,” plays a huge role in keeping your gums healthy. You may not realize it, but if your gums are unhealthy, you could wind up losing all your teeth.
At District Smiles, we’ll examine your gums as well as your teeth because we want to ensure they are 100% healthy. Did you know you can detect some kinds of gum problems at home? Here are a few warning signs to watch:
- Red, swollen or tender areas
- Bleeding when you brush your teeth (some people call this “pink toothbrush”)
- Bleeding after using a toothpick or flossing
- Persistent bad breath or bad taste in the mouth
- Gum recession which makes teeth look longer
If gum disease gets serious, teeth can loosen, shift their positions or even be lost.
Measuring the Space Between Teeth and Gums
In some of your dental visits, one of our staff may take measurements of the space between your teeth and your gums with a small probe. That little probe has marks on it that lets us know how far this tool can be slipped down into this space.
When the numbers are very low, your gums are growing tightly to your teeth and your gum health is normally excellent. When the numbers get larger, there are pockets between the gum and teeth in which bacteria will grow. This sets up a toxic environment for your whole mouth.
When we find these pockets, we recommend gum disease therapy to clean them out. This treatment is called “scaling and root planing.” Scaling consists of cleaning out bacteria and hardened plaque under the gum line. Root planing refers to smoothing the roots of your teeth so there are no spaces in which bacteria can thrive.
After this treatment, we follow up with you by doing more measuring to make sure your mouth has healed properly.
Serious Health Effects
Gum disease should always be addressed as promptly as possible because it can have severe effects on your overall health. Bacteria growing in the mouth can be transmitted to other parts of the body resulting in a greater risk of clogged arteries, heart disease, stroke and complications during pregnancy.
If you have noticed any of the signs of gum disease, please call us for an examination and recommendations that can return you to health. In Northwest Washington, D.C., we are just across the street from the Tenleytown-AU Metro station. We’re ready to help you keep your gums healthy and your teeth safe, healthy and secure.