Understanding Periodontal Maintenance for Healthy, Beautiful Gums

Healthy and perfect-looking teeth are the essence of a beautiful smile. But what about the gums? Your gums may not be the stars of the show when smiling, but they form a critical component of your smile and oral health. Unfortunately, unlike your teeth, your gums are composed of soft tissue and aren’t protected by the tooth enamel. This anatomical composition makes them vulnerable to external irritants, so you should pay closer attention to your gum health.

One way to keep your gums healthy is by maintaining optimal oral hygiene by brushing and flossing your teeth. However, if gum disease manages to sneak into your mouth, you can count on Jonathan J. Golab, DDS, PA, in Flower Mound, Texas, for treatment procedures. Dr. Jonathan Golab and the team offer effective periodontal therapy to improve the function and esthetics of your gums.

Gum disease explained

Periodontal disease is the greatest threat to your gums. This condition occurs when plaque accumulates in your mouth when you fail to observe diligent oral hygiene. Plaque forms a perfect breeding ground for harmful bacteria that irritate your gums, causing them to bleed, swell or turn red.

If this gum irritation (gingivitis) isn’t addressed, your gums start pulling away (receding) from the teeth, creating periodontal pockets that are difficult to clean without the help of a dentist. As gum disease advances, the gum tissue and bone that secure your teeth are damaged. Soon, your teeth loosen and eventually fall out!

Gum disease isn’t a laughing matter. Fortunately, it’s easily preventable and treatable, especially in the early stages. 

Periodontal maintenance for gum disease

The good news is that you don’t always need surgical intervention when treating gum disease. With optimal oral hygiene and routine dental cleanings, Dr. Golab can help you reverse gingivitis — the early form of periodontal disease. However, you need more intervention if you have moderate to severe gum infection. 

Deep teeth cleaning is one of the most common procedures for treating gum disease. This procedure is similar to regular teeth cleaning (prophylaxis) but is more extensive, involving two techniques: scaling and root planing. 

During scaling, our hygienist or dentist uses a dental scaler to eliminate plaque and tartar (dental calculus) along the gum line, extending down to the roots of your teeth. After scaling, we smoothen out your tooth roots to discourage the proliferation of harmful bacteria. Root planing also promotes gingival tissue healing and reattachment to the teeth. Sometimes, we can complement deep teeth cleaning with topical or oral antibiotics to keep the infection under control.

Periodontal cleaning addresses most cases of gum disease. However, you may require additional procedures like gum grafting and gum flap surgery if you have advanced periodontitis. Our team will guide you every step of the way to ensure your gum health is restored.

What should I do after periodontal maintenance?

You shouldn’t rest on your laurels once we help you combat gum disease. You must diligently observe dental hygiene to prevent plaque and tartar from building up. 

To keep your gums healthy:

• Brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste
• Floss after meals
• Consider an anti-microbial mouth rinse
• Adhere to bi-annual dental check-ups
• Quit smoking
• Consider a dental-friendly diet
• Keep your mouth hydrated

Periodontal maintenance near me

Would you like to learn more about periodontal maintenance in Flower Mound, TX? Please call (469) 444-2119 to talk to Dr. Jonathan J. Golab.

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