We Maintain Healthy, Infection-free Gums with Periodontics
Gum disease is a common oral condition that affects the gums and the surrounding tissues. This progressive disease starts with seemingly innocuous symptoms, which progress into complex issues when you fail to seek proper treatment.
Healthy gums are the pillar of a healthy smile. Ballston Dental Care offers periodontics in Arlington, Virginia, to prevent, diagnose, and treat gum disease and maintain infection-free smiles. Please schedule an appointment today to preserve your healthy smile.
How does gum disease develop?
Your mouth is home to over 700 species of bacteria, and most of these are the bad type. Harmful bacteria cause plaque, a sticky, colorless film that gives your mouth an “icky” feeling if you fail to brush and floss for hours. Failure to remove plaque triggers gum irritation, causing gingivitis—the earliest form of gum disease. Gingivitis symptoms include red, puffy, and tender gums.
Brushing and flossing can remove plaque, but they aren’t 100% effective. That’s why you need routine dental cleanings to eliminate plaque from hard-to-reach surfaces in the mouth. Otherwise, the unremoved plaque hardens into tartar, which can’t be eliminated without the dentist’s help.
Tartar invites more harmful bacteria, which attack and damage the tissues below the gum line. Over time, deep periodontal pockets form between your teeth and gums as the infection progresses. Gum disease doesn’t stop there. The harmful bacteria destroys the teeth-supporting bone and ligaments, causing tooth loss! Worse yet, uncontrolled periodontal disease can create an “inflammation overload” in the body, putting you at risk of heart disease, diabetes, and other systemic conditions.
How is gum disease treated?
Gum disease treatment depends on its severity. Our office uses a minimally invasive approach to treat gum disease. Gingivitis responds favorably to diligent brushing and flossing alongside standard cleanings. However, when the infection is past the gingival stage, the dentist will recommend deep teeth cleaning, which involves two dental procedures.
- Scaling: Regular cleanings aren’t enough to remove infection from the deep, bacteria-filled pockets. Through scaling, the dentist uses special tools to remove harmful bacteria and calcified deposits from the tooth surface and roots.
- Root planing: The dentist will polish your roots to remove rough spots that attract harmful bacteria and tartar. Also, planing encourages the infection-free gums to reattach to the teeth.
Scaling and root planing are effective treatments, but the dentist can complement them with antibiotics to prevent reinfections. After deep cleaning, the dentist places Arestin® in the infected areas. Arestin gradually releases medication to destroy bacterial colonies, keeping your gums infection-free.
How can I prevent gum disease?
Prevention is the most effective way to keep your gums healthy. Observe the following tips to prevent gum disease.
- Brush your teeth twice daily for at least two minutes, and reach every tooth surface
- Floss once or twice daily to prevent plaque formation between teeth
- Use a medicated mouthwash to kill bacteria left after brushing and flossing
- See your dentist bi-annually for regular cleanings and check-ups
- Manage stress, diabetes, and other immune-suppressing conditions
- Adhere to a dental-friendly diet
Are you interested in periodontal care?
Would you like to maintain healthy gums? Call (703) 229-8565 to schedule an appointment with Ballston Dental Care for comprehensive periodontal care services. Let’s take care of your smile so that you can love it more.
