Protecting your smile requires maintaining the health of all of your oral tissues including your gums. While preventing the cause of tooth decay is certainly important, you will find that your gum health is vital to securing your teeth in place. These tissues provide a protective seal that guards your jaw against bacterial infection, but when they become inflamed and begin to recede, this protection can be lost. When an infection destroys your gums and weakens the jaw, you risk losing teeth as well. Gum disease is the primary cause of tooth loss for American adults, so do not take this issue lightly. Fortunately, in its first stage, gingivitis, you can reverse gum disease. This is why it is critical to stay on top of your visits to the dentist to regularly inspect your oral health.
At your Ankeny, IA dental practice, we examine and clean your gums at every one of your checkups. Your semiannual visits provide the opportunity to detect symptoms of gum infection such as bleeding or chronic inflammation. By removing bacterial plaque and tartar deposits, we also target the source of gum disease before it starts. When we do detect an infection, we can put you on a periodontal therapy schedule to provide more advanced care.
Inspecting Your Gums Regularly
Because gum infections are caused by oral bacteria that grow in plaque on the surface of your teeth, your daily oral hygiene routine is your first line of defense. By combining your daily cleaning habits with regular trips to the dentist, you allow us to inspect your teeth and gums and remove bacterial deposits you cannot handle on your own. A preventive attitude towards oral care means attending each visit when you are in good health and not waiting for symptoms to prompt a dental trip.
Periodontal Maintenance Therapy
As gum disease advances, bacterial pockets form below your gumline that are not accessible during routine cleaning. To alleviate your symptoms and allow your gums to heal, we can perform a periodontal deep cleaning that clears bacteria and plaque below. Successful treatment should reduce your inflammation and stop any constant bleeding when brushing your teeth, but when your pockets become deeper, you may require additional treatment. For conditions that do not respond to deep cleaning, we can refer you for periodontal surgery to repair your gums.
Speak With Your Ankeny, IA, Dental Team About Taking Care Of Your Gums!
Maintaining a biannual dental checkup schedule allows you to catch signs of gum disease before they worsen. Prioritizing your gum health is key to maintaining your smile over a lifetime. To schedule a visit, call your Ankeny, IA, dentist’s office at 515-207-6182. We also serve patients who live in Alleman, Elkhart, Bondurant, and all surrounding communities as well!
