If your gingivitis is not managed, it may progress to periodontal disease. This extreme form of gum disease not only causes bleeding, swollen, and painful gums, but it can also destroy the bones that support your teeth, leading to tooth loss. While there are steps you can take at home to help manage your periodontal disease such as brushing and flossing, you will need to seek professional gum disease treatment from your dentist. Here are some gum disease treatment interventions that are effective in treating periodontal disease to promote healing and restore your oral health.
Antimicrobial Treatments
Periodontal disease can heighten your risk for severe gum infections and tooth abscesses. While certain oral infections are asymptomatic, others may cause a bad taste in your mouth, bad breath, and a purulent discharge that contains pus. You may also experience dental pain, jaw pain, and earache.
If your dentist determines that you have an oral infection related to your periodontal disease, they may prescribe oral antibiotics as well as an antimicrobial mouthwash for you to use in conjunction with your brushing and flossing routine.
Certain antibiotics that are commonly used in dental practices such as doxycycline, can cause side effects such as abdominal pain and diarrhea. If you experience these symptoms, tell your dentist before you stop taking them. If you do not finish your antibiotics, your infection may not clear or it may spread to other parts of your body.
Deep Cleaning Treatment
While it is essential that you see your hygienist for teeth cleanings, you may need a type of deep cleaning called a scaling and root planing procedure (SRP) if you have periodontal disease. During a scaling and planing procedure, your dentist cleans out the periodontal pockets that are caused when your gum tissue separates from your teeth. Infection-causing bacteria, plaque, and calculus can build up in these pockets, however, deep cleaning can allow your gums to heal faster by creating a healthy oral environment.
Your dentist will also clean under your gum tissue and smooth the roots of your teeth to discourage sticky plaque from adhering to them. The scaling and root planing gum disease treatment can take multiple dental appointments to complete, however, the process will help decrease the depth of your periodontal pockets
If you have any of the above signs and symptoms of severe gum disease, schedule an appointment with your dentist. With prompt gum disease treatment, your condition may be less likely to progress to severe periodontal disease that may result in bone destruction and tooth loss.
For more info about gum disease treatment, contact a local company.
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