Periodontics

What is Periodontitis?

Periodontitis is a serious disease that can decimate your oral health. Without treatment, it can cause you to lose your natural teeth. It’s the last stage of a gum infection that damages the soft supportive tissues around your teeth. Left to progress untreated, it will lead to bone loss and, ultimately, your natural teeth will fall out. As bad as periodontitis is, there are some positives. The first is that it progresses slowly, over a matter of years. There is ample opportunity for a person to get treatment. Another positive is that treatment for periodontitis is highly effective. It is possible to stop the progression of periodontitis in its tracks. But the earlier you get treatment, the easier it will be, and the more natural teeth may be preserved.

Treatment For Periodontitis

If your dentist in Woodbridge, VA has diagnosed you with periodontitis, then a custom treatment plan will be made for you. Treatment for periodontitis focuses on eliminating infection, reducing inflammation and preventing further progression of the disease. Non-surgical options include scaling and root planing, where plaque and tartar are removed from below the gum line, and the root surfaces are smoothed. Antibiotics may be prescribed by your dentist in order to control the growth of bad bacteria. In advanced cases, surgical treatments like flap surgery, bone grafts, and tissue regeneration are available. They may be necessary to restore supportive structures. Laser therapy is another modern option to reduce bacteria and promote healing. Your dentist will let you know which treatment options are recommended for your individual circumstances.

Risk Factors For Periodontitis

Although anyone can technically develop periodontitis, there are certain risk factors that can make it more likely. The first is poor oral hygiene habits at home. If a person fails to brush, floss and rinse after meals, bad bacteria builds up and becomes problematic. Another risk factor is avoiding the dentist. Regular dental visits help keep teeth and gums healthy. It also gives your dentist a chance to detect the earliest signs of trouble. Using tobacco in any form lowers your body’s immunity and makes it more likely that your body won’t be able to fight off bad bacteria in the mouth. Drinking to excess does the same thing, as well as increases your consumption of sugar, which both good and bad bacteria feed on. Stress, poor nutrition, and certain medications that reduce saliva flow can further increase susceptibility. Finally, a genetic predisposition to periodontitis increases the risk, as well. Despite all this, you can avoid it with dental visits at least twice a year.

When to See a Dentist

Twice-yearly visits to your dentist are the bare minimum recommendation. If you’re interested in nearly guaranteeing that you don’t fall victim to periodontitis, you should consider visiting your dentist once every three months. Apart from that, there are times when you should make a special exception to see your dentist, such as if you notice anything like:

lumps or bumps along the gumline

loose tooth or teeth

teeth shifting out of position

bite out of alignment

chronic bleeding gums

painful teeth or gums

red, swollen or tender gums

These are just some of the symptoms of periodontitis, but not all of them. Any time you notice anything unusual about your oral health, it’s worth it to get in touch with your dentist at Niles Dental.

Lifestyle Modifications After Periodontal Treatment

After you’ve received periodontal services in Woodbridge, VA, it’s important to know that you may not be out of the woods quite yet. It takes time for your gum tissue and bone to grow healthy enough again to support your natural teeth. Your body needs time to heal completely. Your dentist will give you instructions as far as what to expect with your healing process. Beyond that, you may need to make lifestyle modifications to help ensure that your periodontitis doesn’t take hold again. First of all, you’ll want to prioritize good oral hygiene by brushing twice daily with fluoride toothpaste and flossing regularly to remove plaque. If you use tobacco, you should know that tobacco use significantly worsens gum disease, lowers immunity and raises your risk for a recurrence of periodontitis. Do what you can to eliminate stress in your life, and develop relaxation tools to help you manage times when you can’t control stressors.

Niles Dental is your best dentist when dealing with periodontitis. If you’re seeing early symptoms, or worried about losing your teeth due to periodontitis, contact your Woodbridge, VA dentist right away. We’ll make the correct diagnosis and create a custom treatment plan to take care of your periodontitis. The longer you wait, the more natural teeth will be at risk. Don’t delay. Contact us today.