What Treatments Are There for Combating Gum Disease?

If you suspect that you have gum disease, or if you have been diagnosed with periodontal disease, your best course of action is to seek professional help in our office. Our staff can help you not only treat the disease by stopping it from getting worse, we can also help you restore your oral health. Fighting gum disease is not a losing battle, and we are here to tell you that there is hope for you!

Treatments at Home and In Our Office

At home, there are several things you can do to combat gum disease. Maintaining a healthy diet full of leafy greens, no sugars and lots of fresh fruits can help. These foods contain many vitamins, which are beneficial in the fight against gum disease. Additionally, crunchy fruits and vegetables assist in cleaning your teeth! They scrape the plaque and buildup away from your teeth and gums and they encourage saliva flow, which helps rinse your mouth of bacteria. Brushing twice daily, flossing and using a mouthwash is another way that you can fight gum disease at home.

In our office, we will begin by measuring the depth of the pockets in your gums followed by a complete set of x-rays to help determine the extent of damage. Once an action plan has been established, we may suggest treatments such as: removing the tartar and bacteria from the tooth surface and beneath the gum line. This is called scaling. Root planning is also done beneath the gum line. It involves smoothing the root surface which discourages further buildup of bacteria and tartar. We may even prescribe antibiotics to help control bacterial infection.

If you suspect that you have gum disease, please don’t hesitate to call our office and schedule an exam at your earliest convenience. Early detection and treatment is paramount in treating periodontal disease.