Understanding Periodontal Disease: Treatment and Prevention
At Las Cruces Dental Associates, PC, located in Las Cruces, New Mexico, we provide scaling and root planing services to combat gum disease and initiate the recovery of your oral health. We understand the devastating effects of untreated gum disease, which is why we emphasize the importance of regular visits to our dentists. These check-ups are crucial for early detection and necessary treatment to ensure your gums stay healthy.
What are the dangers of periodontal disease?
Gum disease, or periodontal disease, can significantly impact oral health. Additionally, it can affect your overall health, as the infection in the mouth travels through the bloodstream, resulting in other medical health conditions that may be caused by the infection in the smile. Periodontal disease has several dangers, including:
- Tooth loss: As periodontal disease progresses, it can cause the gums to recede and the jawbone supporting the natural teeth to deteriorate. This can result in the loosening of teeth that may eventually fall out or need to be extracted by a dentist.
- Bad breath: The bacteria and infection caused by gum disease often lead to chronic bad breath, also known as halitosis. This can be embarrassing and impact your self-confidence.
- Painful chewing: As the gums recede and the bone deteriorates, chewing or biting down on food can become painful. This may lead to a limited diet and nutritional deficiencies.
- Inflammation and bleeding: Gum disease causes inflammation in the gums, resulting in issues such as redness, swelling, and bleeding. This can make brushing and flossing uncomfortable and increase the risk of infection spreading.
- Systemic health issues: As mentioned, the bacteria in gum disease can enter the bloodstream and spread to other parts of one’s body, potentially causing or worsening conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, respiratory illness, and pregnancy complications.
How is periodontal disease treated?
Scaling and root planing are often the treatment of choice. During this procedure, our dental team will thoroughly clean both the teeth and gums, removing tartar and plaque from below the gum line. This can effectively reduce inflammation and prevent further infection. In more severe cases, they may recommend additional treatments such as antibiotic therapy or surgical procedures to remove infected tissue and promote healing.
Explore the benefits of deep teeth cleaning as a treatment for periodontal disease!
Infection requires additional care and attention from our Las Cruces Dental Associates, PC dental team. If you have been diagnosed with periodontal disease and need deep teeth cleaning, please get in touch with our dentists at (575) 339-1838.
