Can You Restore Gum Health?

Gum health is one of the most important aspects of overall health, yet it’s often the most ignored. Many people are actually unaware that they may have gum problems. Left untreated, these can turn into painful and costly oral health issues in the future.

What Is the Impact of Poor Gum Health?

Poor gum health impacts your teeth of course, but it goes beyond that. Poor gum health is also associated with poor overall health. This includes not just physical health but mental health.

For example, a University of Birmingham study looked at people who had gum disease. They found the following data about people with gum disease:

• 37 percent increase in mental health disorders
• 33 percent increased risk of autoimmune disease
• 18 percent increased risk of cardiovascular disease

What Are Some Signs of Poor Gum Health?

Bleeding, tender gums are a sign that gum disease might be developing. Receding gums are another clear sign. If teeth are starting to become loose or wobbly, or worse, fall out, then you may have advanced gum disease.

What Causes Poor Gum Health?

Poor gum health is not an uncommon problem. It can occur in both adults and children. While some people may be more genetically prone to gum disease, it can occur in anyone.

Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, starts off as an inflammation of the gums. It is caused by bacteria that thrive on plaque and tartar buildup. In the beginning stages of periodontal disease, gums become red, tender, and inflamed, and may be more prone to bleeding. As the inflammation progresses, gums can begin to recede. This makes teeth vulnerable to infection as well as loosening. At its worst, periodontal disease can result in tooth and bone loss.

Gum disease starts off as gingivitis – this is where the gums become tender and inflamed. It then progresses to a full-blown infection of the gums called periodontitis.

Can Gum Health Be Restored?

The big question is, can gum health be restored? The short answer is yes. However, the sooner you get started, the better.

As periodontal disease becomes more progressive, it can cause permanent damage to teeth, gums, and even the jawbone. While this damage can be in many ways fixed and restored through restorative dentistry in El Segundo, it’s better to treat gum disease as early as possible.

With regular treatment of gingivitis or periodontitis, your gum health will improve. At El Segundo Modern Dentistry & Orthodontics, we use a number of reliable and advanced treatments to restore teeth and gums that have been damaged by periodontal disease.

How Can Gum Health Be Restored?

Gum health can be restored in several ways, but it depends on the level of gum disease and what structures in the mouth may have been damaged. However, everyone with periodontal disease can see an improvement in gum health with more aggressive dental hygiene.

This doesn’t mean that your gum disease was caused by poor oral hygiene per se. Some people are just more prone to gum problems for a variety of reasons. However, if you are prone to gum disease, you will need to pay special attention to dental hygiene.

Other treatments used for periodontal disease include root planing and scaling (deep cleaning), oral medicines, and oral surgery.

What Is Root Planing and Scaling?

Root planing and scaling is a type of deep teeth cleaning that removes plaque and tartar that is beneath the gumline and difficult to get to with a regular toothbrush. The dental hygienist will use special dental tools and often an ultrasound device to remove this plaque and tartar. This type of special cleaning is usually done first to get you “on track” and then a less invasive routine periodontal cleaning is performed to keep the teeth free of plaque and tartar buildup over time.

What Medicines Are Used for Gum Disease?

Periodontitis is an infection of the gums. Therefore, topical antiseptics are sometimes used to destroy the bacteria that are causing gum inflammation. These can include medicines such as Chlorhexidine Gluconate. For a serious infection of the gums, antibiotics such as penicillin may be prescribed.

Antiseptic mouthwash is also a type of over the counter medicine that helps to kill the bacteria that cause gum disease, so using mouthwash after you brush and floss is recommended.

What Oral Surgery Procedures Are Used for Gum Health?

For serious cases of periodontitis, restorative dentistry or oral surgery may be needed to repair the damage to the teeth and gums.

One procedure is to remove unhealthy or infected gum tissue to promote healing. The surgical removal of gum tissue that has become diseased is called a gingivectomy. A gingivoplasty is another type of oral surgery used to reshape and repair gum tissue to better support the teeth.

Another procedure called a gum graft or tissue graft takes a piece of healthy gum tissue where it is not needed and uses it to build up an area where the gums have receded too much.

What Can I Do to Restore My Gum Health?

Twice daily brushing and flossing, along with using antiseptic mouthwash, can make a huge difference with your gum health. Make sure you get your teeth cleaned at least twice a year at our El Segundo dental office.

Start Restoring Your Gum Health Today!

Gum disease can be prevented and treated. If you are located in or near the South Bay in Southern California, El Segundo Modern Dentistry & Orthodontics can help. Our staff has a lot of expertise helping people recover from gum disease. We know you’ll love working with our friendly dental hygienists, who will help keep your teeth and gums free of infection with their thorough teeth cleanings. Don’t delay – the sooner you get started, the better the outcome will be for your teeth and gums.

Would you like to restore your gum health? El Segundo Modern Dentistry & Orthodontics can help. Contact us today at (424) 277-2671 to schedule an appointment.