You brush your teeth every morning and night. Perhaps you use teeth whitening treatments to keep your smile bright. But what do you do for your gums?
The truth is, you can’t have a healthy mouth without healthy gums. Yet nearly 50% of all adults over the age of 30 show signs of gum disease- and many don’t even know it. It’s easy to become so fixated on the appearance of your teeth that you forget to protect your gums.
Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is a serious health condition that can’t be ignored. Left untreated, gum disease leads to infection, tooth loss, and bone degeneration. Fortunately, advanced dental technology now makes it possible to stop gum disease in its tracks without gum surgery.
The team at Ivory Pointe Dentistry is incredibly proud to offer state-of-the-art gum disease treatment using gentle laser periodontal therapy. Here’s what you should know about this cutting edge technology and how to use it to transform your oral health.
What is Gum Disease?
It’s impossible to keep all sugar, bacteria, acid, and food debris out of your mouth. After all, you have to eat! If you choose wholesome foods, brush and floss diligently, and visit your dentist every six months, you can successfully prevent gum disease by stopping decay before it ever begins.
However, in many cases, that’s easier said than done. Dangerous bacteria lurk in the darkest, hardest-to-reach spots of your mouth. They silently cause damage to your teeth and encourage the early stages of gum disease. If you smoke, eat a high-sugar diet, or brush and floss infrequently, bacteria take the chance to spread like wildfire.
Eventually, bacteria, sugars, and acids blend to create plaque and tartar that brushing alone can’t remove. This leads to the first stage of gum disease known as gingivitis. If you don’t stop gingivitis early, it progresses into advanced gum disease called periodontitis.
Gingivitis
Gingivitis is the mildest form of periodontal disease. It’s your mouth’s warning sign that you must make changes to protect your teeth and gums from serious damage in the future. Even though gingivitis doesn’t cause overt discomfort, it does present symptoms like red and swollen gums that bleed easily.
As the first stage in the progression of gum disease, gingivitis is very common. However, just because it’s common doesn’t mean you should shrug it off.
Periodontitis
Periodontitis isn’t nearly as reversible and easy to treat at gingivitis. It develops when gingivitis isn’t stopped in its tracks.
The plaque that “only” caused inflamed gums in the gingivitis stage starts to grow below the gum line and produce toxins that stimulate an inflammatory response within your body. This essentially tells the body to attack itself and break down the tissues and bones that support the structure of your mouth.
As a result, untreated periodontitis causes the gums to separate from the teeth and form pockets that quickly become dangerously infected. Gum tissue and bone breakdown further as the teeth surrender to rapid decay. Over time, your teeth become loose and fall out.
Do You Have Gum Disease?
Admitting that you have gum disease may be scary, but ignoring the signs and suffering the future complications is bound to be even scarier.
Watch for any signs of the following symptoms. If you find them, talk to your dentist immediately to schedule gum disease treatment.
- Chronic bad breath
- Red, tender, bleeding gums
- Pain when chewing food
- Loose or wiggling teeth
- Increased tooth sensitivity
- Receding gums
- Unexpected tooth loss
- Multiple cavities and infections
If you need any other incentives to take gum disease seriously and get help from an experienced dentist like Dr. Yaron Miller at Ivory Pointe Dental, consider this: the dangers of gum disease don’t stop in your mouth. Periodontitis is directly linked to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, preterm birth, and other serious conditions.
Treating Gum Disease With Laser Therapy: How Does It Work?
You don’t want to lose your teeth, develop heart disease, or cope with dangerous oral infections for the rest of your life. If you have gum disease, the only way to prevent these outcomes is to undergo gum disease treatment.
Fortunately, gum disease treatment no longer requires a scalpel, a drill, or a painful recovery period. Laser periodontal therapy has revolutionized the way that dentists like Dr. Miller can treat gum disease.
Overall, laser therapy uses concentrated light energy to precisely target the area of the mouth being treated. When the laser’s light energy reaches your gums, it gently cuts or vaporizes the tissue as needed. You don’t feel any pain, and none of your healthy tissue is disturbed!
This is how laser periodontal therapy so effectively targets gum disease and helps your mouth begin the process of recovery.
The Best Benefits of Laser Periodontal Therapy
Never before have patients been able to enjoy the many benefits that laser therapy makes possible.
When you visit your San Diego dentist for gum disease treatment, here’s what to expect:
- Rapid healing and tissue regeneration
- Reduced risk of infection after treatment
- Less need for stitches and sutures
- Less need for anesthesia
- Minimal bleeding during and after treatment
- Protection of natural tooth structures
Unlike other dental tools, lasers can target the underlying source of inflammation in the gums without harming or removing healthy tissue. This makes it possible to slow or stop attachment loss and give your mouth the opportunity to recover from chronic infection.
Since all of this is achieved without the use of sutures, scalpels, and drills, you can achieve optimal oral health without any fear, anxiety, or discomfort.
What Laser Does Dr. Miller Use?
Dr. Miller and his team at Ivory Pointe Dentistry are proud to use the time-tested Picasso Light+ Laser system. It’s the best laser technology for the job: whether you have widespread, aggressive periodontal disease or moderate inflammation and decay, laser periodontal therapy can restore your gum health and save your smile.
Call Ivory Pointe Dental today to learn more about laser therapy and start your journey to better oral health.
