Periodontal Care
Columbus, OH
Periodontal Care provided by Dr. Nicholas P. Raptou
and Dr. Isaac Raptou
in Columbus, OH at Raptou Family Dental
 Are you looking for essential tips to maintain your oral health? It is necessary to consider the importance of healthy teeth and gums. With this approach, we can ensure more proactive diligence when taking care of our oral health to prevent dental issues. You can also drastically improve your smile and confidence in the process.
What Is Periodontal Disease and How Does It Relate to Healthy Gums?
If you are experiencing an infection in the gum tissues, it is most likely gum disease, which dentists call periodontal disease. If you have poor tooth brushing and flossing habits, you will most likely welcome plaque to your oral cavity.
Over time, this accumulation hardens and results in periodontitis, which is swelling of the gums as the bacteria invade the soft tissues. In worst cases, the gums swell and bleed whenever you brush them, and it might also result in premature tooth loss.
Why Is Periodontal Care Important?
Oral hygiene holds great importance as it has an impact on your personality as well as your health. The following reasons reflect why periodontal care should be something you pay attention to:
Preventing Bacteria Invasions and Maintaining Oral Health
Being regular in periodontal care helps you avoid plaque accumulation and other associated gum problems. If gum disease is detected in its early stages, the bacteria invasion can be treated, resulting in healthy oral hygiene. Healthy gums act like a solid anchor to your teeth and keep them in place. If you regularly maintain your oral hygiene, the chances of gum disease and tooth loss are reduced.
Connection With Other Health Issues
Gum disease is more likely to give in to other health problems such as respiratory problems, diabetes, or heart issues. If you are dedicated to maintaining good gum health, it can reduce the chances of developing other health issues.
How to Practice Periodontal Care
Brushing, Flossing, and Rinsing with a Mouthwash
Focusing on oral hygiene greatly impacts periodontal care, such as brushing your teeth with a soft-bristle brush more than twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. This helps avoid gum irritation and removes away any food residue.
You can also try flossing your teeth to eliminate tiny food particles that hide between your teeth and gums. Another way to stay ahead in oral hygiene is using dentist-approved mouthwashes. An excellent antibacterial mouthwash helps maintain good breath and prevent bacterial invasion.
Paying Regular Visits to the Dentist
If you want to maintain the health of your teeth it is best to schedule routine appointments with a trusted dentist like ours at Raptou Family Dental. A dentist expertly removes plaque and tartar accumulation that is missed with brushing and flossing. Dentists also detect gum disease within seconds of examination, helping you get rid of them before the bacteria spread further.
Making Healthy Choices
What you eat will impact the short or long-term health of your gums and teeth. Therefore, you must eat a balanced diet with equal amounts of minerals, vitamins, and calcium to help in growth and natural maintenance.
You should avoid dairy products or sugary foods at night because bacteria love them the most. If you want to maintain sparkly white teeth in the long run, you must avoid smoking and tobacco because consuming them increases the risk of gum and respiratory diseases.
What Causes Gum Inflammation?
Gum inflammation is the most common periodontal disease. It is caused by long-term plaque accumulation, which hardens and becomes tartar, causing severe irritation.
How Do Hormonal Changes Cause Inflammation in Gums?
In some cases, hormonal changes have been observed to be the cause of inflammation in the gums, such as hitting puberty, during pregnancy, or menopause. Gums become sensitive, irritable, and inflamed due to constantly shifting hormonal levels.
Inflammed Gums Due to Medications and Illness
Some medicine reduce salivary flow which results in inflammation in the gums. On the other hand, illnesses like diabetes and HIV AIDS increase the risk of developing inflamed gums and periodontal disease.
How to Take Care of Gums Effectively Through Periodontal Treatments
Scaling and Root Planing
Scaling and root planing are detailed oral cavity cleaning procedures skilled dentists perform. They help remove tartar and plaque from above and below the gum line. They also smooth any rough spots and make your teeth sparkle.
Periodontal Maintenance
Regular gum treatments, including the methods of scaling and root planing, are often required for patients with advanced periodontal disease. Learn more about periodontal maintenance in Columbus, OH.
Taking Dentist-Prescribed Medications
Dentists sometimes prescribe certain medications, such as mouthwash, antibiotics, or gels (oral), which help control bacterial invasions and effectively reduce gum inflammation.
Oral Surgery
If you are suffering from severe gum disease and none of the other options are helping, you may need oral surgery. Dentists commonly perform soft tissue and bone grafts and flap surgery to foster supportive tissues and bone-related concerns.
How to Maintain Periodontal Health In Children
Starting periodontal care early is the best way to add oral hygiene to an individual's life. Children are prone to swelling or bleeding gums as they consume a lot of dairy and sugary products, and you can play an important role in introducing them to general oral health.
Starting At Toddler Age
Toddlers and infants have soft gums. Hence, to maintain their oral health, wipe their teeth with a damp cloth as soon as they start teething. As soon as their teeth pop through, you can start with soft finger brushes to help them adapt to brushing their teeth regularly.
Teach Them Proper Techniques and Make It Fun
You can model in front of your children and show them how to brush and floss your teeth. Once they start following your techniques, closely monitor them. You need to ensure they brush properly (not too forcefully or gently). You can make the experience fun by using colorful toothbrushes and flavorful pastes.
Regularly Visiting the Dentist
Visit the dentist regularly with your child to introduce them to the concept of dental care and minimize the anxiety associated with the process.
Visit Raptou Family Dental For a Periodontal Checkup
Maintaining oral health is as important as any other aspect of your well-being. Early prevention and consistency are the keys to staying away from periodontal disease. For more information on the subject, contact us at (614) 427-0449 to book your appointment today! |
