Periodontal Maintenance Tips: The Key to Preserving Your Smile
Periodontal treatments can save your smile by treating gum disease. Unfortunately, the benefits of periodontal treatment can fade, leaving you at risk for worsening gum disease or developing gum disease again. The good news is that you can preserve the benefits of gum treatments with periodontal maintenance from your dentist in Vero Beach, FL.
Periodontal maintenance aims to remove the bacteria, plaque, and tartar that can cause or worsen gum disease. The treatment is essential for anyone who has a history of gum disease and has undergone periodontal therapy. It can also be helpful for anyone who smokes, has diabetes, or has a family history of gum disease. This treatment may even help reduce the risk of gum disease in pregnant women, as pregnancy can increase the risk of periodontal disease.
The word periodontal means “around the tooth.” The term relates to the structures surrounding and supporting your teeth, such as the gum tissue and bones in your mouth. All dentists perform some types of periodontal care, but some dentists receive advanced training to become periodontists specializing in treating periodontal disease.
Benefits of Periodontal Maintenance
Periodontal maintenance provides several benefits, such as:
- Improving the outcome of periodontal treatment
- Preventing your gum disease from getting worse
- Preventing tooth loss
- Maintaining oral health
- Providing an opportunity for early detection and treatment
The Periodontal Maintenance Process
The periodontal maintenance process usually involves thoroughly cleaning the gums and teeth. A periodontal maintenance appointment typically includes evaluation, scaling and root planing, polishing, patient education, and follow-up.
Evaluation
Your periodontist will evaluate your gums’ health and response to treatment and determine whether you need additional periodontal therapies.
Scaling and Root Planing
Your periodontist may recommend scaling and root planing during your periodontal maintenance appointment. Also known as deep cleaning, scaling, and root planing, it involves the removal of plaque and tartar that has built up on your teeth and smoothing out the tooth roots to prevent bacteria from sticking to their surface.
Polishing
Your dental hygienist will polish your teeth after scaling and root planing. This step removes any plaque or stains that remain on your teeth.
Oral hygiene education
During this step, you’ll learn to clean your teeth and gums at home between appointments effectively. You should never feel rushed through this part and should feel comfortable asking questions.
Follow-up
You’ll schedule your next periodontal maintenance appointment. Most people benefit from undergoing periodontal maintenance every three to four months, but depending on your specific case, your follow-up appointments may be more or less frequent.
Tips for Keeping Your Gums Healthy Through Periodontal Maintenance
Our Florida periodontist is extremely knowledgeable about ways to prevent periodontal disease from returning, and we’re always glad to share some of our favorite tips with our patients.
Brush twice a day and floss once daily.
Brushing and flossing help remove plaque, tartar, and bacteria that cause gum disease and other oral health issues.
Rinse with mouthwash
Swishing mouthwash around your oral cavity can rinse away plaque, tartar, food particles, and bacteria.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Some manufacturers recommend avoiding rinsing your mouth with water or eating/drinking anything for 30 minutes after mouthwash to allow any active ingredients to work effectively.
Quit smoking
Smoking weakens your immune system, making it harder for your body to fight off the infections that cause gum disease. Smokers have twice the risk for gum disease as do smokers. What’s more, once you have developed gum disease, smoking makes it harder for your gums to heal, and periodontal treatments may not work as well.
Eat a healthy, balanced diet.
Too much sugar can cause inflammation of your gums, increasing your risk of gum disease. Some healthy foods, such as fruits and vegetables, offer natural anti-inflammatory and protective properties.
Stay hydrated
Staying hydrated improves the production of saliva, which rinses away bacteria and food particles.
Keep up with a routine dental cleaning schedule.
Your dentist is vital to preserving your smile through professional evaluations and cleaning.
Choose an outstanding periodontist in Vero Beach/Melbourne
Vero VIP Implants & Periodontics provides periodontal maintenance for people in Vero Beach and Melbourne, FL. We believe in building a solid foundation to build your new confident smile!