Protect Your Teeth & Gums
Gum disease is the #1 cause of tooth loss in adults, and it’s completely preventable with proper oral hygiene and preventive care from a dentist like Dr. Nathan Williamson. However, if you do have gum disease, it’s important to get proper periodontal care right away at Williamson Dental. Learn more about gum disease below, or contact us now for an appointment at our Columbia IL dentist office.
What Is Periodontal Disease?
Understanding The Basics
Periodontal (gum) disease is an infection of your gums and the structures that support your teeth, and it’s caused by poor oral hygiene. If you’re not brushing and flossing properly, bacteria will build up between your teeth and gums, forming plaque that eventually hardens into tartar.
Then, these bacteria will attack your gums, causing tenderness and inflammation. This is gingivitis, the first stage of gum disease, and it’s reversible with proper oral care. But if it’s left untreated, it will progress into “periodontitis.”
This stage of the disease causes permanent damage to your teeth and gums, which can never be completely reversed and eliminated. However, its progression can be halted with proper periodontal care from a dentist like Dr. Williamson, preserving your teeth and gums.
From Scaling & Root Planing
What To Expect
Scaling & root planing, which is also often called “deep cleaning” is the most commonly-used treatment for gingivitis and periodontitis. Along with antibiotics and antibacterial mouthwash, scaling & root planing can resolve most cases of minor-to-moderate gum disease.
The process takes two appointments across a span of a few weeks. Dr. Williamson will need to clean half of your mouth at each appointment, and allow it to heal between appointments.
Then, he will use special dental tools to scrape plaque and tartar away from your teeth and gums, and to smooth out the roots of your teeth. Each tooth must be cleaned individually, so it typically takes at least an hour to clean each half of your mouth.
When your appointment is over and you’re sent home, you may need to take antibiotics or use a prescription mouthwash to help destroy any remaining bacteria. Make sure to follow Dr. Williamson’s recovery instructions, and come back to Williamson Dental for any further appointments required to clean your mouth.
Do I Need Periodontal Care?
Recognizing The Signs
If you have gingivitis, you need to get periodontal care right away to reverse the disease and ensure that you can restore your oral health. The most common signs of the first stage of gum disease include swollen, inflamed, discolored, and tender gums, as well as bad breath (halitosis) that won’t go away, and heavy bleeding when brushing or flossing.
As periodontal disease gets worse, so do the symptoms. More advanced stages of gum disease may have symptoms such as teeth that look longer (due to gum recession), a foul taste in your mouth, a change in how your teeth fit together, and pain and tenderness when chewing. If you notice any of these symptoms, you need to get periodontal care from Dr. Nathan Williamson as soon as you can.
Immediate treatment is of the utmost importance when it comes to periodontal care. The sooner you get treatment, the more likely it is that Dr. Williamson can completely eliminate your gum disease, or halt its progression and restore your oral health. Contact us to schedule an appointment at Williamson Dental, and get the help you need.
