We strive to help our patients enjoy good oral health by safeguarding your periodontal health. Keeping your gums strong and healthy means you can lower your risk of tooth loss and discomfort. In today’s blog, your Ankeny, IA, dentist talks about how we improve your periodontal health with treatments like deep cleanings!
The Signs of Poor Gum Health
https://dentalimpressionsofankeny.com/checkups-and-cleanings/How do you know if you have poor gum health? If you attend checkup and cleaning visits with our team every six months, then we can examine your smile and identify problems like gingivitis and periodontal disease in the early stages, often before you notice symptoms yourself. Otherwise, you may not know you need help until you experience soreness and redness in the gums, or bleeding when you brush and floss. As the issue grows in severity, you could encounter swelling or possibly recession, the latter making teeth appear longer. Don’t ignore these symptoms, as you risk the periodontitis stage, which is connected to adult tooth loss!
Deep Cleanings
For many cases of gingivitis and periodontal disease, we can help with a procedure known as a deep cleaning, or a scaling and root planing. With this procedure, we will numb the areas of your smile being treated, and then gently remove all plaque and tartar from the teeth with an ultrasonic scaling device, which emits gentle vibrations to break up buildup. We then employ a manual pick to remove the more stubborn portions of plaque and tartar from the gum line. We then polish the teeth to make it more difficult for plaque and tartar to form before your next appointment. This could take one visit or as many as four, depending on the extent of your buildup.
Improving Your Oral Health
Following your scaling and root planing, we can help manage the disease with a routine dental cleaning every three to four months to remove plaque and tartar. This controls inflammation and manages the disease. You can also help with better oral hygiene habits at home. For example, making time to brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste and floss every evening before bed. Try to avoid tobacco products and really cut back on the sugar and starch in your diet. These factors help fight gingivitis and periodontal disease, so you enjoy a full and healthy smile for years to come.
If you have any questions about improving your periodontal health, please contact our team today to learn more!
Dental Impressions Provides Better Gum Health
Our team wants to help you enjoy better oral health and a beautiful smile. To schedule an appointment and keep your smile full and healthy, then call Dental Impressions in Ankeny, IA today at (515) 965-0230.
