|
The mouth is a busy place, with millions of bacteria constantly on the move. Brushing and flossing every day does a lot more than just help keep your teeth looking pearly white. Good dental health is also key to preventing gum, or periodontal, disease. Gum disease is an inflammation of the gums that can progress to affect the bone that surrounds and supports your teeth. Caused by the bacteria in plaque, a sticky, colorless film that constantly forms on your teeth, if not removed properly plaque can build up and the bacteria can infect not only your gums and teeth, but eventually the gum tissue and bone that support the teeth. Gum Disease Prevention Keeping your teeth and gums healthy takes only a few basic steps that should be performed every day. Good home dental care, regular dental visits, a healthy diet, controlling stress and not smoking are the cornerstones of first-class dental health. The most important step to gum disease prevention begins at home with proper dental care. You can remove plaque by brushing, flossing and possibly using a mouth rinse. Brush your teeth at least twice a day, as brushing helps to remove bacteria from your teeth. Use a toothbrush that has soft bristles and fits your mouth appropriately. Replace your toothbrush every three to four months, or when the bristles become frayed. Additionally, choose toothpaste that contains fluoride because fluoride strengthens teeth and helps prevent tooth decay. It is also important to floss your teeth once a day. Flossing will remove the bacteria and food particles that your toothbrush cannot reach. Ask your Baltimore dentist if you should use an antimicrobial mouth rinse as a part of your oral hygiene routine, as well. Visiting your dentist regularly is also very important in gum disease prevention because gum disease is typically painless, so you may not even know you have it. Regular exams and professional cleanings to remove plaque and tartar are essential for a healthy mouth. Non-Surgical Periodontal Therapy (Scaling and Root Planing) Your visit to your Baltimore dentist every six months for routine dental checkups and professional cleanings allow your dentist to determine if you have gum disease. Two of the most common methods that exist to reverse gum disease are dental scaling and root planing. Dental scaling occurs with manual hand instruments, ultrasonic instruments or both. The procedure will begin with a thorough examination of your mouth, followed by an ultrasonic scaling device that is used to eliminate the plaque bacteria with sonic vibrations. The scaling device removes tartar, plaque and biofilm from the tooth surface and underneath the gum line. A manual instrument may be used next to remove the remainder. Root planing involves detailed scaling of the root surface to decrease inflammation of the gum tissue. Your dentist scales the root surface to smooth out rough target areas, eliminating plaque and biofilm development. If your gum tissue is sensitive and diseased, local anesthesia can be administered to numb the tissue. Dental scaling and root planing may take two to four visits based upon the level of oral disease in the mouth.
Dr. K. Michael Murphy and Associates is a multi-specialty practice establish by Dr. K. Michael Murphy, prosthodontist in Baltimore, in March of 1991. It now includes Drs. Alexandra Welzel, and Dawn Merguerian, as well as a part-time endodontist, providing services in veneers, sedation and dental implants in Baltimore.
|
