Periodontitis can seem scary, and without treatment, it can lead to severe gum and tooth damage. Thankfully, there are several non-surgical periodontal therapy options that can help heal your gums and save your teeth. Let’s look at periodontitis as a whole and the various non-surgical therapy options available to treat the disease.
What Is Periodontitis?
Periodontitis is another name for gum disease. This gum infection can destroy your gum tissue and cause tooth loss if left untreated. Thankfully, periodontitis, while common, can be easily treated and prevented early on with good dental hygiene and regular dental visits.
Signs of periodontitis include red, swollen, or oddly colored gums. If your gums feel tender or sore or are prone to bleeding, this can also be a sign of infection. Of course, if you notice new spacing between your teeth, severely receding gumlines, or tooth loss, contact your dentist immediately, as this can be a sign of advanced periodontitis.
The earlier you catch a periodontal disease, the easier it is to treat the condition. Remember to reach out to your dentist for any dental concerns, and make sure to schedule a regular dental cleaning visit twice yearly.
What Are Non-Surgical Periodontal Treatments?
One of the primary non-surgical treatments for periodontitis is scaling and root planing. Scaling and root planing cleans the area below your gumline, removing any pockets of bacteria that may be causing the infection. In addition, by smoothing the root of your tooth, your dentist can help prevent future bacterial problems.
Another potential treatment for periodontitis is laser treatment therapy. These treatments target the infected tissue with specific lasers to help remove bacteria, allowing your dentist to target hard-to-reach areas while breaking down sites of infection especially. While these therapies are somewhat new, they are effective in clinical studies and are an up-and-coming form of periodontal treatment.
One of the more common forms of periodontal treatment includes specialized dental trays. Patients use these trays at home to apply medications to their gumlines without requiring direct dental input. Your dental team will prescribe the medication used to treat your periodontitis and provide customized dental trays to allow you to carry out treatment at home.
If you are worried about peridontitis, ensuring you carry out good oral hygiene can help significantly reduce your chances of developing the disease. For example, brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing, and using mouthwash can help reduce bacteria in your mouth. This, in turn, can prevent gum infections at the source. Thankfully, if caught early enough, periodontitis is treatable, and early detection can help preserve your teeth and your gumline, helping you avoid more invasive treatments like gum graphs.
If you are looking for a dentist in the Irving, Texas, area, call Coolbreeze Dentistry at (972) 432-8811. Our dental team is happy to answer any questions you may have and help you get a better idea of the treatment options available to you. Feel free to call us to schedule an appointment with our dental team today.