It goes without saying that if most people were given the chance, they would opt out of experiencing oral health issues. Indeed, the thought of losing a permanent tooth is a troubling one, and this is why patients choose to stay on top of brushing their teeth. Bear in mind, however, that your oral health is comprised of more components than just your teeth, and it is important to keep these aspects in mind as well. In today’s blog, your Pella, IA dentist explores what it means to care for your gum health, and how office treatment may be able to help.
Flossing Matters
Periodontal disease is a phenomenon that affects many people every year. Indeed, it consists of hyperactive oral bacteria that have made their way beneath the gums, where they then contribute to plaque and tartar buildup on the roots. Because of the location, this buildup is allowed to remain relatively unbothered.
When a person develops a form of gum disease, they often experience a number of symptoms as well. For instance, signs of infection include swollen, bleeding, or discolored tissues, alarmingly loose teeth, separation between gums and the structures they contain, and even teeth falling out on their own.
So how do bacteria get beneath the gums in the first place? The answer is quite simple: oral bacteria feed off of the food particles that become stuck in-between teeth and the gums. While some pieces become dislodged on their own, most of the time, they require our help to remove. In other words, flossing truly matters when it comes to keeping your smile healthy. To learn more about this process, reach out to our team today.
Understanding a Deep Clean
As patients begin to experience the side effects listed above, our team will recommend additional treatment to ensure your smile’s protection. This often includes a periodontal cleaning, which involves our team removing the plaque and tartar buildup from your roots, then subsequently smoothing their surface to make future attachment more difficult for bacteria.
Because this process involves us addressing the concern in sections, it will require a few separate visits to complete. If you have any questions about this process or if it can benefit your current situation, speak with our team today.
Attend Your Visits
A final piece of advice we offer our patients is to seek treatment sooner rather than later, and do not skip your routine visits. These appointments are intended to help ensure your smile is taken care of, which means being able to identify minor concerns before they get worse.
Learn More Today
Contact Allen & Neumann Family Dentistry in Pella, IA by calling 641-628-1121 to schedule your next appointment with our team, or learn more about the need for proper gum health.