The Periodontal Disease Treatment in Houston

Periodontaldisease is a common ailment for nearly every walk of life and gender in Houston. It usually affects adults in their 30s and 40s, but can sometimes affect young adults as well.

Teenagers aren’t prone to developing periodontitis, though a milder form of gum disease, gingivitis, is more common. Men are also more likely to develop gum disease than women, though the root cause for the disease is almost always the same.

Identifying Risks for Periodontal Disease

According to the National Institute of Health, smoking is one of the leading risks for developing periodontaldisease in Houston. The chemical compounds in cigarettes, cigars, and other tobacco products reduce the protective effects of minerals on the teeth.

Smoking can also cause the gum line to recede due to adversely affecting gum tissue. All combined, this leads to a buildup of plaque, which eventually leads to gum disease.

Other factors that can contribute to the risk of developing periodontal disease include:

●     Hormonal changes in females cause the gums to become very sensitive to changes, making it easier for gum disease to develop

●     Diabetes and other illnesses can contribute to the development of gum disease due to lowered immune system responses

●     Medications and other drugs can also change the physiological response of the body to increase risk of periodontal disease

Underlying Cause of Periodontal Disease in Houston

Though there are several factors that increase your risks of developing the disease, the root cause is always the same: hardened plaque.

Plaque is a buildup of bacterial waste that can turn teeth yellow and make them feel like they’re coated with a soft, but rough surface, rather than smooth enamel.

When plaque is not frequently cleaned from teeth, usually from being in a place inaccessible to toothbrushes and floss such as between teeth and under gums, it can harden to form tartar.

Tartar is more protected against standard at home cleaning, and can facilitate the spread of gum disease.

The best way to prevent gum disease is to be diligent about cleaning the teeth and gums, both at home and with regular visits to the dentist.

Treatment of Periodontal Disease in Houston

Fortunately, even if home care is not enough to rid of tartar and stop gum disease, there are treatments that can be provided by dentists in the Memorial / Galleria / Tanglewood area.

To get rid of periodontal disease, the infection itself must be addressed and cleansed.

Your Houston dentist may use x-rays to determine the extent of the disease and ensure it has not reached the bones of your jaw, which can have disastrous effects.

Beyond that, the main treatments are deep cleaning and medication.

Deep Cleaning

●     A deep cleaning of teeth is completed using scaling and root planing. Scaling scrapes the tartar from teeth while root planing smooths out the roots of teeth near the gum line.

●     Both of the deep cleaning methods target bacteria in their most concentrated areas, which are often out of reach of toothbrushes and floss. Once the bacteria is removed, the gums will be able to heal.

Medication

●     Most often, patients will receive an antibiotic after a periodontal disease treatment in Houston. The antibiotic(s) will kill off any remaining bacteria and allow the gums to heal after an acute case of the disease.

●     In some cases, an antibiotic gel may be applied. This treats the site of periodontal disease directly, and can help reduce the depth of periodontal pockets.

●     If the body’s own enzyme responses are to blame for the deterioration of gum tissue, an enzyme suppressant may be necessary to regulate it.

●     Some medicated mouthwash may be prescribed to combat early forms of gum disease or help maintain healing after surgery. It works just like regular mouthwash, but the antimicrobial medications in it will fight bacteria, even in some spots a toothbrush or floss can’t generally reach.