Caring For Your Smile After A Gum Infection

Prairie Village, KS, Gum DIsease

Learning you have a gum infection from your dentist can be a bit scary. Bleeding when you brush or floss, chronic bad breath, and sore tissues are all common signs of this unfortunate condition. By scheduling a checkup when you suspect a problem with your smile, we can help get the disease under control and stabilize your oral health. We encourage regularly attending cleanings and exams to both prevent smile threats and detect them early when they occur. Your examination portion allows us to identify any immediate changes in the appearance of your oral structures and provide treatments when necessary. A gum infection is reversible in its first stage, gingivitis, and we can help you manage the more advanced forms of the disease as well.

At your Praire Village, KS, dental office, we offer comprehensive services to support every aspect of your oral health. While cleanings are critical to protect the structure of your teeth, the same deposits that cause tooth decay contribute to gum disease. By cleaning plaque and tartar on a routine basis, you can decrease your odds of an infection. In today’s blog, we discuss methods for managing this condition and bolstering your smile!

How Do Gum Infections Begin?

When you understand the factors that contribute to gum disease, you can take preventive action to stop it before it starts. This disease results from your body’s inflammatory system responding to irritation of the gingival tissue. As the gums try to escape the irritating presence of plaque and bacteria on your smile, they recede and begin to destroy themselves. This recession reveals pockets between the roots of your teeth that allow bacteria to burrow even further. Without immediate cleaning, bacteria risk infecting your jawbone, leading to a permanent condition. When this happens, we will recommend a periodontal maintenance therapy to help manage your symptoms and preserve remaining healthy tissue.

A Scaling And Root Planing Procedure

To stabilize your oral health, a scaling and root planing treatment can lift tissue to clean bacteria under the gumline. By scrubbing the roots of your teeth, your gums are able to reattach over time while your symptoms subside. To ensure your comfort during periodontal maintenance, we may split treatment into multiple sessions with ample local anesthetic. Because gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss among adults, regular periodontal visits can help you maintain your natural smile.

Talk To Your Prairie Village, KS, Dentist About Maintaining Healthy Gums

Let us know if you suspect a current gum infection. We can inspect your oral tissues and provide the services necessary to get your disease under control. If you would like more information on how we help you maintain your gums, please reach out to our Prairie Village, KS dentist’s office at 913-901-8585.