So, you’ve been diagnosed with periodontal disease, what’s the next step?
Periodontal disease is caused by bacteria below the gumline and it’s the main cause of adult tooth loss in the United States. Even so, many people are tempted to ignore their dental professional’s advice to treat periodontal disease in its early stages. You have a choice. Do more now, or allow the disease to progress further. Left untreated, periodontal disease may lead to more serious problems that may require extensive surgery. In combination with scaling and root planing (SRP), your dentist or dental hygienist can apply ARESTIN® to help treat your moderate to severe gum disease.
Everyone’s mouth contains bacteria that cause periodontal disease. That’s why it’s the most common chronic bacterial infection in adults. In fact, the majority of adults in the United States have periodontal disease. With regular checkups and good daily oral hygiene, it’s possible to keep this infection under control. Since early periodontal disease symptoms are often mild, many people are not aware of their condition until it becomes more serious.
Control your periodontal disease with active periodontal therapy (SRP) at your dental office as well as with an antibiotic treatment. If you have periodontal disease, SRP is needed to help reduce the bacteria amount under your gums thus improving the health of your teeth and gums. In addition, applying an antibiotic in the gum pocket helps to reduce the bacteria population even further. That’s why we recommend ARESTIN®. This antibiotic is in the form of microspheres that are placed in the recently cleaned gum pocket. ARESTIN® with SRP is more effective than SRP alone. Your dental hygienist places ARESTIN® in the pockets below your gumline. ARESTIN® will dissolve on its own over 3 weeks.
ARESTIN® is different from antibiotic pills because it’s placed right where you need it. A pill can’t give you the level of antibiotic concentration in your gums that ARESTIN® can. As your gums heal, keep them healthy. You can take steps toward preventing periodontal (gum) disease. Here are a few tips to help you care for your teeth after receiving ARESTIN® with scaling and root planing (SRP). After receiving treatment, avoid chewing hard, crunchy, or sticky foods such as carrots, taffy, and gum for 7 days. You should also avoid using floss or a dental pick in the treated areas for 10 days.
Here are some tips for keeping periodontal disease under control.
- Drinking water can help flush out bacteria as well as wash fluoride over teeth keeping them strong
- Stop smoking- Smoking is a main risk factor for periodontal disease
- Maintain a good oral health routine. This should include brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and flossing every day.
Dr. Julie Pruneski is the dentist and owner of Whispering Pines Dental located at 690 Cooper Foster Park Road in Lorain Ohio. Dr. Pruneski is a current member of the American Dental Association, Ohio Dental Association, Lorain County Dental Society, Academy of General Dentistry, American Academy of Implant Dentistry, and American Academy of Facial Esthetics. To reserve an appointment with Dr. Pruneski, call 440-282-2023. Check us out online at www.whisperingpinesdental.com and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/whisperingpinesdental.