Why are healthy gums so important?
Healthy gums are crucial because they significantly enhance your quality of life and help you feel good about yourself.
Healthy gums help you retain your teeth, which allow you to speak clearly, smile confidently, and eat comfortably. A confident smile is one of the most attractive features a person can have. Healthy gums give you the confidence to smile, and smiling radiates positive energy and approachability, making you more likable and happy. This positivity is something people appreciate and connect with.
How can I tell if my gums are healthy or unhealthy?
You can determine the health of your gums by their color and appearance. Healthy gums are soft, pink, and rosy, resembling a soft coral pink color. Unhealthy gums, on the other hand, are often reddish, swollen, and puffy, especially between the teeth. Bad breath can also be an indicator of unhealthy gums, as it may result from accumulated bacteria and inflammation. So, pay attention to both the look and smell of your gums.
What causes unhealthy gums?
Several factors can cause unhealthy gums. Medical conditions like uncontrolled diabetes can lead to gum issues, as can pregnancy due to hormonal changes. The primary cause for most people, however, is poor oral hygiene. Proper oral hygiene involves both brushing and flossing, as flossing reaches areas between teeth and under the gum line that toothbrushes can't. Remember, flossing is an essential part of maintaining oral health.
What is involved in the process of deep cleaning teeth?
Deep cleaning, known as scaling and root planing, is a thorough cleaning process. It's akin to taking your car to an auto detail shop rather than a quick car wash. While a regular cleaning takes about 45 minutes to an hour, a deep cleaning can take two to two and a half hours and requires numbing the area. This process is essential for thoroughly cleaning the teeth and gums.
Why does it take more than one sitting for a dental cleaning?
Deep cleanings often require two visits because it's not feasible to complete an extensive cleaning in one session. It would take about four and a half hours to clean the entire mouth, which is too long for one visit. Typically, we clean one half of the mouth at a time, numbing the area to ensure comfort. This approach prevents excessive anesthesia and jaw discomfort.
Is deep dental cleaning and scaling with root planing painful?
Not necessarily. When properly numbed, you should not feel pain during the procedure. You may feel cold from the air and water used and some pressure from the cleaning process, but it should not be painful if done correctly.
What are the best ways to take care of my gums at home after a deep dental cleaning?
The best way to care for your gums after a deep cleaning is to start flossing and maintain good oral hygiene. Brush and floss regularly to keep the bacteria out of the gum pockets and maintain the cleanliness achieved by the deep cleaning.
At what point is gum grafting necessary?
Gum grafting is necessary when the gums have receded significantly, exposing the teeth and causing pain or aesthetic concerns. It involves taking gum tissue from another part of the mouth and grafting it to the affected area. This procedure is also necessary for successful dental implants.
How can I schedule a dental appointment?
Scheduling a dental appointment is simple. Call our office at (925) 272-2698. If you are out of the area, contact a local dentist. If you are unsure, ask a specialist for recommendations, as they are familiar with various dentists' work and patient care quality.
What is the difference between healthy gums, gingivitis, and periodontitis?
Healthy gums are gums that have no inflammation and you don't have bleeding. They're not red, they're not puffy, they're not swollen, and equally important, underneath the gum line, there is no loss of bone level, no loss of bone socket level.
How can we identify healthy gums?
Healthy gums are not inflamed or bleeding. They are not red, puffy, or swollen. Underneath the gum line, there is no loss of bone level or bone socket level. Healthy gums equate to no bone loss and no inflammation of the gums.
What is gingivitis?
Gingivitis is our techie word for gum inflammation. It is characterized by red swollen gums, gums that may not look swollen but are bleeding when you're brushing and flossing. Those are gums that are inflamed and that's a sign of gingivitis. Essentially, gingivitis is swollen gums with no bone loss. It's important to note that gingivitis is reversible because there's no bone loss and once the gums go up, they can go back down to their normal levels.
What is periodontitis?
Periodontitis is an irreversible form of gum disease. It is characterized by loss of the bone level around the teeth. Sometimes, the gum level can be at a normal level, but if the bone level is down or anywhere past where the attachment of the gums should be, that's periodontitis. Often, people with periodontitis will have a drop in the gum level and they'll be able to see long roots, and long teeth. This is a sign of periodontitis. The sad part about periodontitis is that it is not reversible. Once it occurs, it's an irreversible disease state of your gums. The only thing you can do is manage it to keep it in a state of what we call attenuation of stability.
What happens when periodontitis is in its active state?
When periodontitis is in its active state, you have bone loss, with bone level showing roots, and bleeding. This is an active state of inflammation and the disease is progressing.
How can we differentiate between periodontitis, gingivitis, and healthy gums?
Periodontitis is characterized by bone socket loss, gingivitis involves no bone socket loss but has swollen gums, and healthy gums have no inflammation, no bleeding, and no bone loss.