Periodontal (gum) disease is a growing problem and one of the most common conditions we treat.
While good oral hygiene habits can help prevent periodontal disease, it can still happen. The earlier we catch it, the easier it will be to treat.
Periodontal disease, or gum disease, is caused by plaque that builds up on the teeth and especially under the gumline. The sticky plaque attracts bacteria and eventually turns into hard tartar. The tartar and bacteria irritate the gums and cause infection.
Brushing twice daily and flossing every evening using good technique will help remove a lot of plaque, but even the most diligent brusher and flosser may have a hard time cleaning off all the plaque, especially the plaque that hides under the gumline. You can improve your chances of staving off periodontal disease by getting twice-daily professional dental cleanings from one of our excellent dental hygienists as recommended by the American Dental Association.
So what if you brush and floss and get your regular cleanings like you are supposed to and still get periodontal disease?
Other factors can contribute to and cause a predisposition to gum disease:
How your gum disease is treated will depend a great deal on how advanced it is and how much damage it has caused. It’s important to treat gum disease, even in the early stages. Untreated gum disease will not only progress in your mouth but can also lead to health troubles throughout the rest of your body.
Mild gum disease can often be treated with a renewed commitment to good oral hygiene habits and an antimicrobial mouthwash. Moderate-to-advanced gum disease may require a deep cleaning treatment known as scaling and root planing. During this treatment, we remove the tartar from below the gumline and get rid of the rough spots where bacteria tend to gather.
If you are concerned that you might have periodontal disease, don’t hesitate. Call our office today so that we can start your treatment.
From the receptionist to Dr. Harte, everyone was welcoming. By far, it was the best dental experience I've had in a very long time. They were thorough and took time to explain each step. The offices are very clean and updated. I look forward to continuing my dental care with Dr. Harte and her incredible staff. Thank you all for a great experience.
-Suzanne
Coming in for regular cleanings with one of our excellent dental hygienists will help keep your gums in great shape, but what you do at home matters as well. Brush twice daily and floss every evening. Our hygienists will be happy to show you good brushing and flossing technique.
Other steps you can take to prevent gum disease include:
Yes! Harte Dental provides periodontal maintenance.
A periodontal maintenance visit is a specialized cleaning appointment for people who have been diagnosed with gum disease (periodontitis) and have already completed treatment such as scaling and root planing ("deep cleaning" or SCRP) or other periodontal therapy.
It takes about the same amount of time as a regular cleaning!
Unlike a routine cleaning, periodontal maintenance focuses on preventing gum disease from returning.
Typical steps include:
Periodontal measurements
Measure gum pocket depths around teeth.
Check for bleeding, inflammation, gum recession, and mobility.
Removal of plaque and tartar
Clean both above and below the gumline.
Remove bacterial deposits from periodontal pockets where disease can recur.
Polishing and stain removal
Polish teeth when appropriate to remove surface stains and plaque.
Periodontal maintenance helps:
Prevent gum disease from becoming active again.
Reduce the risk of further bone loss.
Control inflammation and bleeding.
Remove bacteria from areas that are difficult to clean at home.
A regular dental cleaning, also called a prophylaxis, is preventive care for patients with generally healthy gums. It removes plaque, tartar, and surface stains from the teeth and helps prevent cavities and gum disease.
Periodontal maintenance is designed for patients who have been treated for periodontal (gum) disease, often after a deep cleaning (scaling and root planing). These visits focus on controlling gum disease by carefully cleaning above and below the gumline and monitoring areas where periodontal pockets and bone loss may be present.
Periodontal maintenance is typically recommended more frequently than a regular cleaning—often every 3 to 4 months, depending on your individual needs.
At Harte Dental in Milton, MA, our dentists and dental hygienists evaluate your gums and recommend the type and frequency of cleaning that will best protect your teeth, gums, and overall oral health.
Yes. Harte Dental in Milton, MA takes patient and team safety seriously. We follow current infection-control and sterilization standards for dental offices, including guidance from the CDC and American Dental Association (ADA). Our safety measures include proper sterilization of dental instruments, thorough cleaning and disinfection of treatment areas between patients, hand hygiene, appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), and precautions designed to reduce the spread of respiratory and other infectious illnesses.
Many of these measures are not specific to COVID-19—they are part of the standard infection-control practices used every day in modern dentistry to provide a clean, safe environment for our patients and dental team.
If you are experiencing COVID-19, flu, or other respiratory symptoms before your dental appointment, please contact Harte Dental so our team can help determine the best next step.
Following the WHO and America declaring the end of the Public Emergency on 5/12/23, we DO NOT REQUIRE MASKS for our patients. Of course, you are more than welcome to wear a mask here if you wish! We will still offer masks as well.
Harte Dental: Did You Know apples are good for your teeth and have many health benefits for your body by providing vitamin C, potassium, prebiotics, & antioxidants!
Apples…
act like a BRUSH with their fibrous texture, scraping away some plaque as you chew!
encourage saliva production to wash away debris
…
Do you have an electric toothbrush!? Awesome! Studies have shown that electric toothbrushes may more efficiently prevent tooth decay, as they vibrate (and can oscillate) bristles to brush off plaque better than manual toothbrushes!
Are you Using your Electric Toothbrush Most Efficiently?
If you are brushing like you were taught …
You may have heard some dental terminology thrown around such as "tartar," "plaque," and "gingivitis." Here at Harte Dental, we love providing quality education to our patients (and future patients) so they can do what needs to be done to maintain a healthy and brilliant smile. So... let's go over …
