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Important Tips For Treating Periodontal Disease

by Andre Daniels

Periodontal disease is a serious threat to your general dental health. It's a condition that causes your gum tissue to detach from your teeth, exposing the roots and bone underneath the gums. When left untreated, it can progress significantly, damaging the roots of teeth. The severity of your condition is determined by how much space there is between your teeth and the gums. If your dentist has diagnosed you with periodontal disease, here's what you need to know to treat it.

Early Stage Treatments

When caught early, there are a few options available to help you treat periodontal disease.

  • Lifestyle adjustments – If you're a smoker, your dentist will recommend that you quit. This will help protect the roots of your teeth and your gums from damage due to smoking. Also, your dentist may suggest that you incorporate a daily mouth rinse into your dental care routine along with brushing more frequently. He or she may even suggest a different toothpaste.
  • Professional cleaning – Along with the dental care adjustments you'll be asked to make on your own, your dentist will also schedule a deep cleaning appointment. This usually includes a tartar scrape to remove any built up plaque or tartar on your teeth. This is important, because it gets rid of residual bacteria that could allow the condition to progress. You may have some gum soreness after this cleaning, particularly if your gums are already sensitive.

More Severe Treatments

If your condition has progressed significantly, you may be advised that you need more extensive treatment. If that's the case, your dentist will likely recommend a cosmetic surgery procedure to restore your gum line, protecting the base of your teeth. A procedure called pocket reduction tightens the gums up against the base of the teeth, eliminating the pockets where bacteria grow.

When you've lost bone or gum tissue completely, grafting can help to restore both. Finally, some dentists recommend that you consider dental implants if you've lost teeth due to periodontal disease. The implants protect your jaw line by keeping your teeth from shifting due to open spaces.

Periodontal disease is not something you should take lightly. It can be a serious condition, and it needs to be treated right away. With the information presented here, you can not only understand what periodontal disease is, but you also know what your options are to treat it. The sooner you address it, the better off you'll be in terms of protecting your teeth. Talk to a local dentist, such as Tony Parsley, DMD, today if you're concerned about periodontal disease or any other oral health issues.

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