Keeping your gums healthy is fundamental if you want to eliminate the need for future dental work.
Our goal, through routine hygiene visits, is a wellness program for each of our patients. Over 92% of people over the age of 30 have beginning, moderate, or advancing gum disease. Gum disease is a silent disease as there are very few symptoms that you have it until years down the road when it has had time to become more of an issue. Because of this, finding out that you have gum disease early on can be a big help in addressing the problem. Frequent hygiene visits help ensure that your teeth are healthy and that nothing unwanted has had time to develop.
The diagram below will help you better understand how gum disease works.
Gum disease is an infection of the different tissues that hold your teeth firmly in the correct position. The main causes of gum disease are bad brushing habits and bad flossing habits. By not brushing and flossing your teeth consistently and correctly, plaque is able to build upon your teeth. When plaque isn’t dealt with quickly, it hardens. Once hardened the plaque is called tartar. Brushing alone is not able to remove tartar. Once this substance has formed, it is necessary for a professional to come in and remove the tartar. Untreated gum disease can lead to tooth loss, painful chewing, and sore and bleeding gums.
There are a number of signs to be on the look for that could indicate you have gum disease:
-Overly sensitive teeth
-Perpetually bad breath
-Swollen gums
-Receding gums
-Tender gums
-Loose and wobbly teeth
-Difficulty chewing
What is Deep Cleaning?
The treatment of gum disease is accomplished through a procedure called Deep Cleaning. In dental terms, this is called Root Planing. This procedure removes debris under the gums and allows the gum tissue to become healthy and reattach to the tooth. This reduces the pocket around the tooth, thus preventing bone loss from around the tooth.
The diagram below illustrates the procedure that our hygienist performs when root planing is necessary.
Tulsa, OK
Address: 3150 E 41st St Suite 131 Tulsa 74105
Email: info@midtownsmilestulsa.com
Phone: (918)-749-1639