At times, it may seem like nothing can be worse than dealing with an unsightly blemish in your grin. While nobody wants their smile tarnished with a minor stain or chip, cosmetic concerns are nothing in comparison to dangerous dysfunction, decay, and even gum infections. In today’s blog, your Leawood, KS dentist will take a look at the common concern of periodontal disease, and how it can result in structural and functional damage.
Bacteria Below the Surface
You may have heard that gum disease is one of the most common dental concerns there are. In fact, it affects millions of individuals every year in some form or another. This process occurs when harmful oral bacteria have made their way beneath the surface of your gums, encouraging deposits of plaque and tartar to form on the roots of your teeth. Here, the deposits are allowed to thrive mostly unbothered, creating a number of functional and structural complications with time.
Those who experience gum disease can end up enduring a number of symptoms and side effects. For instance, you may experience bleeding or swollen gums, loosened teeth and separation from the tissues that once securely housed them, and even structures falling out on their own. If you suspect you are experiencing one or more of these symptoms, please do not hesitate to reach out to our team and learn about your options today.
Preventive Care at Home
While bacteria making their way below the surface in and of itself is not a normal occurrence, why do many people suffer from periodontal concerns? The answer to this question is that a lack of thorough preventive dental care can actually encourage this phenomenon. This occurs when these microorganisms feed off of the food particles that become lodged between teeth.
Indeed, flossing plays a much larger role than you may have initially thought. You see, taking care to floss after every meal drastically decreases your chances of infection, as bacteria is no longer drawn excitedly to the gums. For more information about this process and other steps you can take, reach out to our team today.
Additional Steps to Take
In many cases, patients do not seek help in time and end up incurring significant damage before doing so. In cases such as these, our team may be able to help with scaling and root planing procedures. During this process, our team will carefully but thoroughly remove the bacteria-laden plaque and tartar deposits from your roots. After this, we will smooth their surfaces so as to make future attachment much more difficult. Bear in mind that a deep clean will take more than one visit to complete, and is often a solution for cases of disease progression.
Learn More Today
For more information about deep cleanings and keeping your smile safe, contact Dreem Dentistry in Leawood, KS by calling 913-681-5500 to schedule your next appointment today.
