Most adults know that brushing twice daily and flossing is necessary for keeping their smiles healthy and beautiful. While correct hygiene is essential, semi-annual visits for exams and cleanings also help minimize your risk of developing tooth decay and periodontal (gum) disease.
Here at the office of Dr. Michael Ryan, DDS, and Collin Ryan, DMD, we approach each of our patients as a unique individual and will recommend personalized healthy at-home routines that are easy to follow. From our youngest patient to our most senior, we will develop a plan for treatment and prevention that fits your needs.
Why Your Gum Health Matters
Healthy teeth are supported by healthy gums. But if your gums are compromised by periodontal disease, there’s a lot more at stake than your oral health.
By taking steps to visit your Sarasota dentist every six months for a preventive tooth cleaning and checkup, you are also taking precautions to protect your overall well-being.
How Gum Disease Affects Your Smile
Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection that causes your gums to become inflamed, irritated, and bleed easily when you brush or floss your teeth. During its earliest stages, we refer to gum disease as gingivitis.
Gingivitis can be difficult to detect on your own, which is why it is essential to visit your dentist and hygienist every six months for checkups and cleanings.
Without treatment, gingivitis can advance to periodontitis. At this point, your gums begin to pull away from your teeth and leave pockets where bacteria and food collect and lead to tooth loss.
How We Treat Gum Disease
During your semi-annual cleaning appointment at our Sarasota, FL dental office, Dr. Michael Ryan will look for signs of gum disease. These routine visits are essential because gum disease often develops and does considerable damage before you even know it exists in your mouth.
If you have gingivitis, we will perform a thorough cleaning and make recommendations for improving your at-home oral hygiene habits. For many patients, taking these steps is enough to not only control their gingivitis but also reverse their condition.
If periodontitis is present, we will recommend a deep-cleaning procedure called scaling and root planing. During scaling, your hygienist will numb your teeth and clear away the tartar that exists both above and below the gum line; planing smooths rough spots on the tooth roots where germs gather. Your Sarasota dentist may also recommend antibiotic therapy to help combat your infection.
Severe cases of periodontitis may require surgery with a specialist.
No matter what your condition requires, if you are struggling with periodontitis, Dr. Michael Ryan will guide you through the process each step of the way. We can also help you control your gum disease and maintain your dental health with additional supportive teeth cleanings throughout the year.
Are You at Risk for Developing Gum Disease?
Understanding the risk factors for developing gum disease is part of the prevention process.
Some common risk factors for gum disease are:
- Poor oral hygiene – Lack of daily brushing and flossing promotes plaque and tartar buildup
- Hormones – Hormone changes can promote gum sensitivity
- Diabetes – People who have diabetes have a higher risk of developing gum disease and vice versa
- Certain medications – Some medications that cause dry mouth can increase your risk of developing gum disease
- Genetics – Your genes may leave you predisposed to developing problems like gum disease
Being aware of risk factors and monitoring your dental health for changes will help you protect yourself from the issues that can arise from gum disease. If you notice changes in your oral health, such as swollen, red, or bleeding gums, or chronic bad breath that doesn’t go away with brushing or mouth rinse, contact your dentist in Sarasota right away for an examination.
How You Can Protect Your Smile at Home
An Excellent Home Care Routine
Committing to a consistent home care routine of brushing twice daily and flossing once will help to keep your teeth clean and plaque-free. Talk with your dental hygienist to ensure you are utilizing proper brushing and flossing techniques to remove the most plaque buildup possible.
Dr. Michael Ryan and Dr. Collin Ryan can also recommend products to use at home to help you make the most of your home care routine, such as an electric toothbrush or an antibacterial mouth rinse. Electric toothbrushes do much of the hard work of brushing for you while timing your session to ensure that you brush your teeth for the full recommended two minutes. An antibacterial mouth rinse can help to reduce the bacteria and acids in your mouth that cause plaque buildup.
A Healthy and Well-Balanced Diet
While you may understand that a diet high in sugar is bad for your teeth, did you know that eating more fruits and vegetables can protect them? It’s true! Fruits and vegetables help to increase saliva flow, which eliminates food particles left in your mouth after eating. Increased saliva also helps to protect your teeth by neutralizing the acids in your mouth that cause tooth decay.
Improving your diet by increasing your intake of fruits and veggies not only protects your overall health, but it also protects your teeth!
Please Call to Arrange an Appointment in 34231
At the office of Dr. Michael Ryan, DDS, we provide preventive treatments that keep your teeth healthy and free of disease. But if your teeth aren’t as healthy as you would like them to be, please don’t put off appointments because of embarrassment. We will start where you are and restore your oral health without judgment.
Please contact us today at (941) 921-2122 to arrange your next exam and dental cleaning at our Sarasota, FL dental office.
Frequently Asked Questions
In early gum disease, called gingivitis, your Sarasota, FL dentist can reverse the condition with treatment. However, when gum disease becomes periodontitis, it is harder to treat and no longer curable.
Despite periodontitis being uncurable, your dentist can provide specialized treatments to save your teeth and restore you to a better level of oral health.
Without treatment, gum disease can threaten your physical health, including your heart and lungs.
If you notice that your gums look raw and almost bloody, this could be a sign of periodontal disease. Another sign to pay attention to is how the gums hug the teeth; they should form a tight semi-circle around your tooth. Loose gums can be pockets for bacteria and food debris, which can lead to tooth decay if not cleaned properly.