Periodontal Care in Warren, MI
Healthy Gums, Healthy Smile
Your gums are an essential component of the state of your oral health. When your gums become infected, it can lead to other serious health complications. Fortunately, Warren Family Dentistry provides periodontal treatments for patients who have been diagnosed with gum disease.
Learn about our treatment options below and how Dr. Chirco can get your gum health back on track.
What Is Gum Disease?
Periodontal disease, more commonly known as gum disease, is an oral infection in your gum tissue. It develops due to the buildup of plaque, a type of bacteria that sticks to your teeth and hardens. Once plaque has hardened, it turns into tartar – which is almost impossible to remove without a professional cleaning.
There are two stages of gum disease:
- Gingivitis: The early stage of gum disease in which your gums can start to look red and inflamed. Most patients won’t feel any pain or experience other symptoms.
- Periodontitis: Without treatment, gingivitis develops into periodontitis. This is the more serious stage where bacteria start to destroy the underlying bones and tissues in the mouth, causing severe pain and other health problems.
Symptoms of Gum Disease
As one of the most common oral health diagnoses, gum disease can often be reversed with early detection and treatment. However, many patients may not know the warning signs and neglect treatment, causing a risk of gum recession and tooth loss.
It’s important to seek treatment as soon as the first signs of gum disease appear. Some symptoms to be aware of include:
- Bleeding gums
- Persistent bad breath
- Receding gums
- Red, swollen, and tender gums
- Loose or shifting teeth
- Widening gaps between teeth
Gum Disease Risk Factors
Gum disease affects millions of Americans. You may be at risk if you don’t properly care for your oral hygiene by brushing twice a day, flossing daily, and visiting Dr. Chirco for regular appointments once every six months.
In addition, the following factors can increase your risk of developing gum disease:
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- Severe stress
- Medications that reduce saliva production
- Certain health conditions, like cancer or AIDS
- Genetics – a family history of gum disease
Periodontal Treatment Solutions
Warren Family Dentistry wants our patients to have healthy gums and a beautiful smile. Our professional team will do everything we can to ensure that your gum disease doesn’t progress into periodontitis. Learn how we can treat your gum disease below.
Scaling & Root Planing
Scaling and root planing is a professional deep cleaning. This treatment is the most effective for patients suffering from mild to moderate gum disease. During this procedure, Dr. Chirco will use an ultrasonic cleaning device and other advanced dental tools to thoroughly clean your gums and remove built-up plaque.
We’ll smooth out the rough surface of the tooth and roots to prevent bacteria from settling into the freshly sanitized area. This provides a healthy and clean surface that encourages gum reattachment.
ARESTIN® Gum Therapy
In addition to your deep cleaning, Arestin may be applied after your cleaning to help ward off bacteria and stop further infection. Arestin is designed to reduce the depth of pockets in your gum tissue, decreasing the amount of bacteria in your mouth.
We’ll apply Arestin directly to the pockets between your gums and teeth. This medication will fight your infection for about two weeks, helping you achieve pristine oral health.
Frequently Asked Questions
If caught early on, gum disease can be cured with the help of a professional deep cleaning combined with increased oral hygiene practices. Once the infection progresses to periodontitis, the gums and bone become damaged, leading to lifelong oral health effects.
By brushing twice a day, flossing daily, and rinsing between meals, you can improve your oral health and decrease your risk of developing infections. In addition to an at-home oral hygiene routine, you’ll want to visit our Warren dental office for regular checkups and professional cleanings so we can ensure your oral health is in optimal condition.
After a deep cleaning, any discomfort or swelling will subside within a few weeks. The time it takes for symptoms to diminish depends on the extent of the infection.
In addition to following any recommendations made by Dr. Chirco, you’ll want to rinse with warm salt water to keep your mouth free of bacteria and promote gum healing. You can also use over-the-counter medications and ice to help with any discomfort or swelling you may be experiencing.
There are a wide variety of antibacterial mouthwashes that can help to eliminate plaque and prevent gum disease. Two popular options that we at Warren Family Dentistry recommend are Crest Pro-Health Multi-Protection Mouthwash and Colgate Total Advanced Pro-Shield.
Using mouthwash at least once a day after you brush your teeth can help protect them against plaque and gum disease. Mouthwash is most effective when paired with regular brushing and flossing, as well as dental appointments every six months.
Visit Warren Family Dentistry
You can avoid costly and invasive treatments in the future by focusing on prevention. Our team wants to keep you free of gum disease and in the best of health.
If you feel you may be suffering from gum disease, contact our Warren practice by calling (586) 574-9500 to schedule an appointment. You can also fill out our convenient online contact form to reach our experienced team.