When was the last time you thought about your gums or periodontal health?
We often forget that oral hygiene isn't just about teeth but also the soft tissue, like gums, cheeks, and the tongue. At Zbaraschuk Dental Care, Dr. Zbaraschuk and team can help you keep up-to-date regarding the importance of periodontal health.
How to Care for Your Periodontal Health
Periodontitis, the first stage of gum disease, is an infection that damages soft tissues. Without treatment, gum disease can destroy tissue attachment and bone leading to loose teeth, reduced bone density, tooth decay and other systemic issues..
The Importance of Maintaining Your Periodontal Health
If you don't take proper care of your teeth, you increase your risk for periodontal disease and tooth decay. This can lead to tooth loss, which requires more complex procedures to replace occlusal function
How to Prevent Periodontal Disease
Periodontitis is preventable and is a result of your immune systems response to pathogens present in the mouth and how you take care of your teeth. What can you do to protect your periodontal health?
You can:
Brush your teeth! That's right. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and brush your teeth at least twice per day. Moving the toothbrush in a small circular motion along the gum line will disrupt the biofilm and remove food debris. Flossing is also just as vital. Flossing eliminates food debris between your teeth and disrupts the biofilm below the gumline. Flossing removes food particles your toothbrush can't reach. So remember to floss at least once a day. Utilize an interproximal brush between all of your teeth daily. This will help decrease the bacteria load and increase your oral health! Brush or scrape the top of your tongue. Yes, the top of your tongue! Bacteria love to live there with its constant food source. Either a brush or scraper work well to remove the tiny particles of food and the bacteria. Regular dental checkups and professional maintenance by a hygienist allow the dentist to diagnose preventive strategies and treatments during earlier stages when options are more conservative.
Periodontal Laser Treatment
Periodontal disease affects thousands of people and proper treatment is essential to your overall health. A non-invasive treatment option can help. These procedures may be accomplished in one or multiple office visits.
The Laser based technique:
First, the biofilm is disrupted and removed using a glycine powder slurry Next, the hard buildup (calculus) is removed from the tooth surface using a piezo or ultrasonic scaler Followed by light energy from a laser to remove diseased tissue, clear and the root surface and reduce the pocket of bacteria
Periodontal and gum health is vital! If you have questions or would like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Zbaraschuk then make sure to contact our office by calling or texting (360)-683-3626.