To take care of all aspects of your oral health, you should focus on maintaining your gums as well as your teeth. This means regularly cleaning bacterial deposits that could infect your gingival tissues. Because your gums provide a vital connection between your teeth and jaw, the loss of your gums can affect the stability of your smile. Eventually, problems with your periodontal well-being can lead to losing teeth. Gum disease is the primary cause of missing teeth among adults, so prioritizing taking care of your gums is vital to preventing all of the complications that come with missing teeth. When you know the initial symptoms of an infection, you can inform your dentist early. Fortunately, gum infection is reversible in its first stage, gingivitis, so do not delay when seeking help.
At your Ankeny, IA dental practice, we inspect the health of your gums at each of your general checkups. When visiting our office, we perform regular cleanings to address plaque and tartar deposits that can infect your gums. Your routine examination allows us to see if tissue recession is taking place or if you experience other symptoms, such as bleeding and inflammation. While early detection can help reverse the disease, we also offer ongoing periodontal maintenance for patients with a more advanced case.
Reducing Your Risk For Gingivitis With Regular Cleanings
Routine dental cleanings help you prevent the sort of issues that require restorative dental work. The same plaque and tartar deposits that erode the enamel of your teeth can infect your gums, and thus their removal is key to protecting your oral health. Professional cleaning also provides an inspection of areas of the mouth that you may have difficulty reaching. We could detect if bacteria is collecting between teeth due to a lack of flossing and help you adjust your at-home care. This feedback can improve your gum health by changing your behavior before an infection takes hold.
Periodontal Maintenance
If we discover an infection at your exam, we can place you on a periodontal maintenance schedule to halt the progression of your disease. We could perform a deep cleaning, otherwise known as scaling and root planing, to remove bacterial deposits below the gum line. While advanced stages of the disease cannot be reversed, strict maintenance can help you maintain the integrity of the tissues that hold your teeth in place. This may include more frequent visits to inspect your tissues.
Speak With Your Ankeny, IA, Dental Team About Treatments For Your Gums!
A preventive attitude towards taking care of your mouth can prevent a bacterial infection of your gums. Our practice can also help you treat periodontal concerns when disease occurs. To schedule a visit, call your Ankeny, IA, dentist’s office at 515-207-6182.
