Gum Disease Treatment – Huntsville, OH
Improving the Health of Your Gums
As many as 50% of adults in the United States will develop gum disease at some point, often without even realizing it. No matter your age, it’s important to seek gum disease treatment in Huntsville, OH as soon as possible if your gums show symptoms. Otherwise, advanced gum disease could cause you to lose your teeth! If your gums have been bleeding, tender, red, or sore, please call Northwest Family Dental to learn how we can preserve your smile with gum disease therapy.
Why Choose Northwest Family Dental for Gum Disease Treatment?
- Nitrous Oxide Sedation Available for Nervous Patients
- Friendly Dentist Dedicated to Using the Latest Technology
- Your Comfort Is Our Top Priority
Scaling & Root Planing
To directly target gum disease, we’ll need to perform a type of dental cleaning that goes beyond what you’d expect at your routine checkups. This is known as scaling and root planing. After breaking up and clearing away the built-up plaque and tartar deposits on and below your gum line, we’ll smooth down the roots of your teeth, which promotes faster healing while discouraging bacteria from gathering there in the future.
Do You Need Scaling & Root Planing?
To find out if scaling and root planing is ideal for you, we will first complete an examination of your mouth. X-rays are also captured to collect as much information as we can. Depending on the condition of your gum tissue, the depths of the pockets, and the progression of your gum disease. We might recommend scaling and root planing.
The Process of Scaling & Root Planing
The complete scaling and root planing process is usually completed over the course of two appointments, but this can vary from patient to patient. To remove plaque and tartar, we will start by scaling the teeth with dental tools. We will target the gumline and beneath – where bacteria build up.
Once the scaling portion is complete, we will move on to the root planing part of the treatment. This is when we smooth down sections of the teeth beneath gumline. This helps the gums to adhere to the teeth, speeding up the healing process by making it more difficult for bacteria to build up in the future. Ultimately, this process reduces the risk of developing gum disease again in the future.
Aftercare Tips for Scaling & Root Planing
It is normal for the gums to feel a little bit sore after scaling and root planing. There may also be some inflammation. This is temporary and should subside over the next couple of weeks. Here are some tips to help the healing process go quickly and smoothly.
- Brush twice per day with a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoridated toothpaste
- Rinse your mouth with saltwater after meals
- Floss every day
- Stick to a soft diet following your treatment
- Avoid foods and beverages that are spicy, acidic, or hot
- Refrain from intense physical activity as the area heals
Antibiotic Therapy
Even with a deep cleaning, we can’t always remove all of the harmful bacteria from the deep pockets between your gums and teeth. What can help, however, is antibiotic therapy. We often supplement scaling and root planing by applying a topical antibiotic, called Arestin, to your gums. Over the course of several days or weeks, the medicine spreads throughout your gums, killing bacteria in the deepest recesses of the tissue.