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Great Looking and Feeling Gums
Do your gums ever bleed when you’re brushing or flossing? Gum disease affects around 80% of the US population at some point in their lives, making it the most prevalent disease in America. While it is completely preventable, gum disease can lead to serious health concerns if it’s left untreated. That’s why Dr. Maegan Elam and her team offer periodontal therapy in Bedford to keep your gums healthy and to prevent the effects of this disease.
What is Gum Disease?
Gum disease is an infection and inflammation of your gums and supportive tissue. It is typically caused by a poor oral health routine that allows for plaque to harden into tartar at your gumline. This irritates your tissue, causing infection. It’s earliest stage, gingivitis, can be cured and reversed through routine brushing and flossing as well as regular visits to our office. However, if this disease persists, it can lead to more severe problems like permanent gum damage, bone deterioration, and even tooth loss.
Why is Gum Disease a Serious Issue?
Besides the damage that gum disease can cause to your oral health, it can unfortunately influence your overall health as well. Studies have shown that gum disease can increase your chances of heart disease and related problems by 20%. This has to do with the inflammation that it can cause, which affects important arteries in your body. It can also raise your risk of stroke, diabetes, certain cancers, and even Alzheimer’s. If you notice that your gums are tender, bleeding, or receding, contact our office right away for treatment.
Understanding Periodontal Therapy
Prevention is always better than treatment, which is why we examine your gums during your biannual visit. However, we are also prepared to treat you if we detect gum disease. That’s why we offer charting and diagnostic services as well as scaling and root planing to ensure the health of your gums.
Charting and Diagnostic Services
There are tiny pockets between your teeth and gums that securely fit around each tooth, but gum disease will cause these pockets to grow larger. We will record the depth of these pockets during your routine checkups to ensure that your gums stay healthy. If we notice any signs of gum disease, we will recommend scaling and root planing.
Scaling and Root Planing
If your gum disease has persisted past the gingivitis stage, we may recommend a deep cleaning. This involves scaling your teeth to remove any plaque or tartar above and below your gum line to prevent further inflammation. After, we will carefully reach under your gums to smooth out your tooth roots. This root planing makes it much harder for plaque and bacteria to buildup under your gum line in the future. Once this is performed, it’s imperative to maintain a positive oral healthcare routine and visit our office regularly to prevent tartar buildup that causes infection.