Periodontal Maintenance Spokane Valley
 Patients who suffer from chronic periodontitis will benefit from a periodontal maintenance program. Working together, we can help rebuild lost tissue, restore the health of your gums and keep disease at bay. Our staff at Coulter Family Dentistry can help you have a healthier mouth.
What is periodontal disease?
More commonly known as gum disease, periodontal disease is a bacterial infection of the gum tissue. Decay-causing bacteria enters our mouth with the foods we consume and even the air we breathe. It collects between our teeth and blends with the naturally occurring plaque that sticks to our teeth. When these bacteria find sugar, it feeds. This is where the phrase ‘sugar bugs’ come from. As bacteria feeds on sugar particles found in either stuck food debris or sticky plaque substance, it then emits an acid that breaks down enamel and irritates gum tissue. There are steps you can take to reduce the development or continuation of gum disease. This includes:
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Home Care: Brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing each night at the end of the day, is the most important step in your oral health care. This step alone will vastly reduce the incidence of problems.
Studies show that patients who invest in a nice rotary brush find even greater success in the removal of plaque and debris. Flossing is also of high importance; it removes disease causing particles that get stuck between your teeth. If flossing thread is difficult for you to manage, investigate the many alternatives in your local store dental aisle, there are flossing sticks, water piks and more, find what works best for you.
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Schedule Regular Dental Cleanings: Dental cleanings with a professional hygienist allows a trained eye to examine your gum tissue and make assessments on its health, including tracking and measuring the gum pockets. Patients with healthy gums may find one or two visits a year with a dental hygienist to be enough. Patients who suffer from a chronic periodontal disease may want to be seen more often.
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Exam your Diet: Your diet affects your oral health. Reduce the levels of sugar in your diet. Sugar is the main contributor to tooth decay and disease. When you do partake of sugary substances, think of what you can do to decrease the sugar in your mouth, this can be done through brushing and drinking water.
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Drink Plenty of Water: Water does more than keeping your body hydrated, it cleans your mouth. Consuming water loosens and removes food particles and plaque in your mouth, also reducing and removing bacteria and sugar. |
Periodontal Maintenance through a Deep Cleaning
Deep cleaning is more involved than a typical dental cleaning. It involves a process known as scaling and root planing. Scaling is the removal of tartar or calculus using a hand scaling tool or an ultrasonic scaler. The ultra-sonic scaler uses a vibrating tip and a directed stream of water. It gently breaks down hardened tartar without damaging the enamel. Once removed, we then smooth the roots of the teeth through a process known as root planing. This step will help prevent plaque from attaching as easily in the future and induce a healing response from your tissue.
We can help guide you through the steps of having healthy teeth and gums. Call us today at 509-924-1314. |
