Bleeding gums can impact your overall health.
Health is our focus, so taking care of periodontal problems is how we begin dental treatment with any patient needing extra care for healthy gums. Why? Without your gums to hold your teeth in place, your smile would be nonexistent. Healthy gums are the first step to complete oral health.
Periodontal or Gum disease starts with a build-up of bacteria, plaque and tartar. That is why regular cleanings and evaluations are so crucial. During these examinations we also measure the pockets between your teeth and check for any bleeding. If the pockets are 4 to 5 mm deep and bleed when measured, you are very likely to have the beginnings of periodontal disease.
That is serious. Periodontal disease is one of the leading causes of tooth loss, and the bacteria that cause periodontal disease have been linked to serious health problems such as heart diseases, poor circulation leading to diabetic concerns, strokes, premature and low birth weight babies. When we treat gum disease, our concern is for your overall health, not just your teeth.
One of the first steps in cleaning and healing your gums is to remove the buildup with our ultrasonic scaler. If we detect infection, we will apply an antibiotic solution directly into the pocket after it’s been cleaned to promote healing. We might feel that it is necessary to prescribe a course of oral antibiotics to further combat the infection. Once the source of infection has been removed, your gums will begin to heal, and tighten around your teeth.
Even in severe cases, we can often avoid scalpel and suture gum surgery. High-tech lasers can make treatment faster, easier and much more comfortable. In short, gum disease is treatable, even at an advanced stage, to help you keep your teeth and improve your health.
