Periodontal Care – Rexburg, ID

Restoring Your Gum Health

Millions of adults in the United States have some form of periodontal disease. Otherwise known as gum disease, this harmful problem occurs when plaque and tartar form and spread beneath the gum line. It can have devastating effects on your teeth, gums, jawbone, and even your overall health. To prevent gum disease in Rexburg from happening, there are steps you need to take to ensure you’re taking proper care of your oral health. At Cornerstone Dental of Rexburg, we offer periodontal care to help you get your teeth and gums back on track. To find out how you can get started, call us today to schedule an appointment.

An older woman smiling

How to Recognize Periodontal Disease

A woman with red gums

Patients can go years without ever realizing they have periodontal disease. Symptoms are often mild in the early stages but can quickly progress, often resulting in extreme measures in an attempt to save your teeth and bone health. Some of the ways you can tell if you’re experiencing gum disease are:

Bleeding gums
Red, inflamed gums
Chronic bad breath
Sensitivity to hot and cold foods and beverages
Loosening teeth

Apart from the negative impact it can take on your oral health, many patients can experience problems with their heart, brain, and overall body. Heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, and even Alzheimer’s can be linked back to gum disease, which is why it is important that you maintain regular dental appointments to stay on top of any problems before they progress.

How Periodontal Disease is Treated

A man having his gums thoroughly cleaned to remove bacteria

If caught in the early stage (gingivitis), periodontal disease in Rexburg can be reversed with thorough dental cleanings and proper at-home oral hygiene practices. However, if it progressed beyond gingivitis, the only way to begin repairing the damage is to allow Cornerstone Dental of Rexburg to intervene.

Depending on the severity of your situation, it will most likely be necessary that we perform a deep cleaning process known as scaling and root planing. This process is necessary once your gum pockets reach a certain depth.

Scaling requires removing the plaque buildup from the tooth’s surface, as well as the pockets. Root planing is then performed to smooth out the tooth’s root, thoroughly cleaning it and helping the root to reattach to the gum tissue.

This process can take multiple visits to our office, but rest assured, our team will make sure to remove all bacteria and plaque buildup. Dr. Crofoot want to ensure too much stress is not placed on your gum tissue all at one time, so it will be necessary to maintain multiple dental appointments throughout the year. It may also be necessary for our team to combine deep cleaning with antibiotic treatment.

Preventing Periodontal Disease

A young woman having her teeth checked

If the idea of gum disease isn’t appealing to you, there are ways you can prevent it from occurring in the first place, including:

Brushing your teeth twice a day for a full two minutes
Using a soft-bristled toothbrush and brushing at a 45-degree angle to effectively clean your teeth and gum line
Using fluoride toothpaste to strengthen tooth enamel and protect from tooth decay
Floss at least once a day to remove harmful bacteria from between your teeth
Rinse with an antiseptic mouthwash
Keep your regular six-month dental appointments
Avoid and/or limit the consumption of too much sugary and acidic foods, as both can lead to tooth decay and gum disease