Taking good care of your teeth and gums daily goes a long way to providing you with a healthier smile today and in the years to come. Next to tooth decay, gum disease leads to loose teeth, tender gums, an unattractive smile and an increased risk for tooth decay. Over time, severe gum disease leads to tooth loss!
Our Precision Periodontics & Dental Implants team specializes in gum disease treatments to keep gums strong and healthy and to replace teeth that have been lost with the help of dental implants. We do all of this while making your time in the chair as comfortable and relaxed as possible for a positive experience.
Good gum care helps avoid gum recession, a condition where your gum tissues pull away from your teeth. When this happens, your smile won’t look as attractive as it once did, but also leaves your tooth roots exposed to the damaging effects of oral bacteria and acids (plaque) that erode tooth enamel. Gum recession is also painful since the exposed roots are sensitive to temperature extremes from the foods and beverages you consume and potential cavities from tooth decay. You can also incur the development of periodontal pockets where the gums meet your teeth. These pockets quickly become a haven for dental plaque and stray bits of food particles that are difficult to clear out, irritating your gums further.
How Gum Disease Develops
The most common cause of gum disease is periodontal disease (when gum disease goes untreated). You may also be genetically susceptible, vulnerable from aging or from having crooked, misaligned teeth. However, even previous orthodontic treatment can lead to gum disease if you are not diligent with your daily oral hygiene care. Daily oral care can go a long way to preventing gum disease from gaining traction in your smile. Other causes of gum disease include oral piercings, chronic tobacco use and even your hormone levels. Gum disease can also arise when you constantly brush your teeth too hard or grind and clench your teeth while you sleep (bruxism). Both wear down tooth enamel. Using a soft-bristled toothbrush and gently brushing can protect your gums, as can wearing a night guard while you sleep.
How To Protect Against Gum Recession
For a detailed rundown of how you can avoid gum recession, check out our page, https://www.perioprecision.com/gum-disease/oral-hygiene-instructions/
You will learn which brushing technique benefits your teeth and gums most, getting a night guard if you experience bruxism, getting orthodontic treatment for misaligned teeth and breaking bad habits that can harm vital gum tissue.
Treating Gum Recession
Our skilled periodontists offer treatment options to restore your gum tissue back onto your teeth, including:
-Supportive Periodontal Therapy: We begin by reversing gum recession so your vital gum tissues can heal and reattach to the teeth.
-Gum Grafting: Placing grafts can restore the damaged gum tissues affected by advanced gum disease.
-Chao Pinhole® Surgical Technique: A non-invasive treatment that lets our periodontists gently move existing gum tissue back over your teeth so it can hold them in place. The Chao Pinhole® surgical technique is one of the more advanced treatments we offer. It allows us to cover and protect your exposed tooth roots with healthy gum tissues. You can read more in-depth information on this technique: https://www.perioprecision.com/gum-recession/chao-pinhole-surgical-technique/
A New Year a Healthier Smile
As this year draws to a close heralding a new year on the horizon, we welcome you to schedule an appointment with Dr. Ryan Mendro and Dr. Lucia Roca Mendro to learn more about preventing and treating gum disease. Start the new year out strong with the healthy teeth and gums you deserve!