| Why can't I just clean my teeth?Gum disease is a | | | | that have been lost because of gum disease.A |
| serious infection. Evidence now links gum disease | | | | periodontist also treats serious forms of gum |
| to a variety of health concerns including heart | | | | disease that do not get better with normal dental |
| disease, stroke, diabetes, and other degenerative | | | | care. When serious gum disease is found, brushing |
| diseases that are life threatening. It's not just | | | | and flossing become even more important.What is |
| about your teeth anymore! | | | | Root Planing?Normal tooth cleanings remove |
| Gum disease can be a disfiguring disease. Your | | | | plaque and calculus deposits from above the gum |
| gums swell in size and become red. They may | | | | line. Root planing is necessary when these |
| bleed very readily. Your teeth may shift and | | | | deposits extend below the gum line.Root planing is |
| spaces between your teeth may start showing. | | | | performed with the same tools as normal |
| The teeth then become loose and may need to | | | | cleanings but the procedure is more aggressive. |
| be removed.Early detection as with other diseases | | | | Often it is necessary to numb the affected area |
| is the key to successful treatment. Your dentist | | | | before the procedure. Once the accumulated |
| or hygienist should routinely perform a gum | | | | plaque and calculus have been removed, the gums |
| (periodontal) disease screening exam once a year. | | | | will heal, tightening around the teeth.Depending |
| The results of this examination will determine your | | | | upon the extent of disease found in the |
| periodontal status. If you have gum disease, your | | | | examination, root planing may be done over |
| treatment will be personalized for you and your | | | | several practice visits. In this way, your dentist |
| level of infection. A routine cleaning is not enough | | | | can assess the progress of treatment and alter |
| by itself to treat gum disease.How can I prevent | | | | tactics if necessary.Simply stated, root planing |
| gum disease?Prevention is the most important | | | | may be considered as an extension of a "routine |
| factor in the fight against gum disease. It is | | | | cleaning". A "routine cleaning" is intended to clean |
| essential to keep your teeth and gums clean. | | | | harden deposits that form above the gums. Over |
| Brush your teeth properly at least twice a day | | | | time, these deposits often form below the gums, |
| and floss at least once every 24 hours.Routine | | | | on the roots. It is at this point that we |
| and regular visits to your dentist are the best | | | | recommend root planing. |
| way of catching gum disease in its early stages | | | | What does it accomplish?During this procedure |
| before too much damage has been caused. Gum | | | | the root surfaces are literally planed.This |
| disease will not go away by itself or with | | | | accomplishes several things:* removes hard |
| improved home care. The only way of removing | | | | deposits and the bacteria they harbor* creates a |
| plaque deep under the gums is with professional | | | | smooth root surface that is easier to keep clean* |
| cleanings. Once you have had a gum problem you | | | | reduces infection because the bacteria will not |
| will always be susceptible to recurring problems, | | | | reattach to the smooth surface as readilyHow |
| so be sure to see your dentist on a regular basis | | | | quickly will I heal?Periodontal therapy represents a |
| - every three to four months unless he or she | | | | partnership between you and your periodontal |
| recommends otherwise.How can I tell if I'm | | | | team. If we each do our part, you will achieve the |
| brushing and flossing properly?Brushing - Brush | | | | maximum benefit from this procedure. Your |
| your teeth gently, paying special attention to the | | | | results will be affected by:* how effective you |
| areas where your teeth and gums meet. Clean | | | | perform your home care* diet* smoking* |
| every surface of every tooth. Use the tip of | | | | stressIt is unrealistic to consider your therapy as |
| your brush to clean behind your upper and lower | | | | a quick fix. Each person will respond differently to |
| front teeth.Flossing - Take a piece of floss and | | | | treatment. Future treatment recommendations will |
| wrap it around your middle fingers. Using a clean | | | | be made on the basis of your healing. For healing |
| section of floss each time, wrap the floss into a C | | | | to be maximized it is imperative that you |
| shape around a tooth. Wipe it over the tooth, | | | | participate in your home care everyday.What is a |
| from base to tip, a couple of times. Repeat on | | | | frenectomy?A frenectomy is the surgical removal |
| each tooth.What if I am already in the early | | | | of a frenum in the mouth. A frenum is a fold of |
| stages of gum disease?If you have gum disease, | | | | tissue that passes from the movable lip or cheek |
| getting rid of plaque and tartar gives your gums a | | | | to the gum. When a frenum is positioned in such a |
| chance to get better. That's why in the early | | | | way as to interfere with the normal alignment of |
| stages of gum disease, the best treatment is:* | | | | teeth or results in pulling away of the gum from |
| cleaning by your dentist or dental hygienist to | | | | the tooth surface causing recession, these are |
| remove built-up tartar* brushing twice a day to | | | | often removed using a surgical process known as |
| remove plaque and* flossing once a day to | | | | a frenectomy.By Dion KramerDion Kramer is |
| remove plaque.When gum disease is more | | | | co-founder and managing director of NobleDentist. |
| serious, your dentist may refer you to a dental | | | | NobleDentist is a dental plan for the people of |
| specialist called a periodontist. A periodontist has | | | | Australia. Dion Kramer collaborates with a |
| extra training in treating gum disease and in | | | | NobleDentist so that his writings are topical and |
| restoring (or regenerating) bone and gum tissue | | | | up-to-date. |