Why are healthy gums so important?
Healthy gums are so important because they help keep your teeth in place and they're also a sign of how healthy your body is. There's a direct connection between gum health and whole body health. There are over a hundred different systemic diseases connected to gum disease.
How can I tell if my gums are healthy or unhealthy?
Healthy gums don't bleed. If you're noticing when you spit in the sink that it's pink, maybe even red, or you have puffy gums, or that they even hurt, that means they're not healthy.
What causes unhealthy gums?
The presence of bacteria causes unhealthy gums. It's removing the fuel that bacteria use to survive, which is chewed up food, also known as plaque, and what you may hear of as tartar.
Can unhealthy gums be fixed?
Yes, gum tissue is very resilient, and we can see it heal very quickly. So yes, it can be fixed, and it is so important to fix it.
How do you fix unhealthy gums?
The root of it is removing the plaque and the bacteria that are there. The way that we do that is sometimes with what we call a deep cleaning or periodontal therapy, and that's when we remove any plaque or buildup that's gotten underneath the gums, and we also use a laser to help with that too.
Is deep cleaning painful?
No, it doesn't have to be. We have a strong topical anesthetic that we can use, and that seeps into the gums, so when my hygienist is working on your teeth, we get the gums healthy, we remove any debris that's there, and then we also use a laser that laser removes all that inflamed tissue.
What are the best ways to take care of my gums at home after a deep cleaning?
After a deep cleaning, we have a lot of instructions to give you, such as brushing with a soft toothbrush, avoiding certain foods for a certain amount of time, and also we'll show you different ways to clean between your teeth and around the gums.
What about gum grafting?
Sometimes gum grafting can be necessary if we see a lot of unhealthy condition, and so what we do first, and what any periodontist does first, is evaluate the gum tissue and then do a deep cleaning, and if we find that that deep cleaning just isn't enough to get your gums a hundred percent healthy, then you may need to see the gum specialist.
How can I schedule a gum evaluation appointment?
If you haven't had a cleaning in a long time, it's really important that you come in and have those gums evaluated. You can call our office to schedule an appointment, or you can also check our availability online too. We hope to see you soon. You can call us here at Carmel Valley Dental at (858) 758-8867.