Get Healthier Gums with Periodontal Care and Specialty Gum Treatments

Before starting a gum treatment, you should identify which stage of gum disease you are in. Periodontal treatment methods depend upon the type and severity of the disease. Your dentist and dental hygienist at JD Howard will evaluate for periodontal disease and recommend the appropriate gum disease treatment.

How To Prevent Gum Disease:

We’ll always keep an eye on the condition of your gums during your regular checkup. With a proper exam and x-rays, your dental care team will be able to identify the signs early and treat it before it turns into anything serious. Thankfully, the best ways to take care of your gums involve many of the things you are already doing: 

• Flossing at least once a day to clean plaque and tartar from between your teeth.
• Brushing your teeth at least twice a day for 2 minutes and paying special attention to brush where your teeth and gums meet.
• Minimizing your consumption of sugary snacks and beverages.
• Staying hydrated to prevent dry mouth and increased plaque development
• Visiting Southern Connecticut Dental Group at least twice a year for preventative checkups.  

Before Treatment: 

Before starting any gum (periodontal) treatment, your dentist and dental hygienist at JD Howard will evaluate you for periodontal disease and recommend the appropriate gum disease treatment. 

Some of the early signs of gum disease include red, swollen, or tender gums that bleed when you clean them. This means that the soft tissue is under attack by an infection, and the only way to address it is to treat the area directly.  Periodontal treatment methods depend upon the type and severity of the disease. Your dentist and dental hygienist at JD Howard will evaluate you for periodontal disease and recommend the appropriate gum disease treatment(s).

Periodontal therapy typically starts with a deep cleaning that targets the area above and below your gum line, where flossing, brushing, and a routine cleaning cannot reach. Our qualified dental hygienists and dentists will remove the plaque, calculus (tartar), and bacteria hiding below the gum line and on the surface of the teeth and roots. 

This is made up of two procedures done at the same time: scaling and root planing. For scaling, we’ll use specialized tools to break up plaque and tartar that have built up along and under your gum line. Then, we’ll smooth the rough surfaces of your roots with root planing, making it much less likely for the gum disease to advance.  

Gum treatment can be lifesaving. By eliminating the bacteria, the swelling of your gums will decrease the likelihood of other serious conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancers will also be reduced. Most, if not all, bleeding will stop, and the gum tissue will reattach to the teeth, preventing further bone and tooth loss.

After your visit, you may experience some soreness. Taking an over-the-counter pain reliever and drinking plenty of fluids will reduce this discomfort.