Gum disease, which is also referred to as periodontitis, is a bacterial infection of the gum tissue that surrounds your teeth. If gum disease is left untreated, it may cause your teeth to loosen, shift or even fall out. Early periodontal care can help prevent these complications so that you can keep your natural teeth for as long as possible.

Signs That You Need Periodontal Care
If your teeth hurt or bleed when you floss, this indicates a need for periodontal care. You may also need periodontal care for gums that are red or swollen, gums that have lifted away from your teeth or persistent bad breath. If you have teeth that are loose or your dentures no longer fit, these are also signs of a need for prompt periodontal care.

Types of Periodontal Care
If your periodontal disease is diagnosed in its early stages, your treatment may involve non-invasive care such as root planing, scaling and cleaning of the pockets of gum tissue around your teeth. If you have an infection, you may be given a course of antibiotics to eliminate the bacteria. If your gum disease persists after these treatments, you might need more intensive periodontal care in order to prevent tooth loss.

Some advanced periodontal care techniques include pocket reduction surgery to lift the gum tissue back over the exposed tooth root. The dentist might suggest other surgical procedures such as soft tissue grafts using tissue from the roof of your mouth or bone grafts from donor tissue. Enamel matrix derivative applications may help stimulate new gum tissue to grow around the base of a tooth.

At Cherry Blossom Dental Care, Faye Nazari, DDS, strives to be your best periodontal care option. Call our office today to schedule an appointment.