Patients in Houston ask, “Can deep cleaning reverse gum disease?”

The leading cause of tooth loss among adults ages 65 and older is gum disease. It can lead to heart disease as well as other issues when left untreated. The team at Vivid Dental cares about your oral and overall health. Therefore, we provide many tips to help prevent gum disease. However, if the disease develops, we can provide the right treatment at our Houston office. There are several treatments for gum disease, including deep cleaning, which is also known as root scaling and planing. Some of our patients will ask, “Can deep cleaning reverse gum disease?”

Before discussing a treatment such as deep cleaning, it is important to know how to avoid gum disease. Stress, smoking, chewing tobacco, certain medications, diabetes, genetics, poor diet, age, and teeth clenching and grinding are risk factors of gum disease. To avoid gum disease, it is important to be able to identify its signs and symptoms. The first sign of gum disease is gums that bleed when brushing the teeth or flossing. This stage is called gingivitis. As gum disease advances, other symptoms can include tender gums, receding gums, swollen gums, foul taste in the mouth, or bad breath, pus, and changes in the way partial dentures fit. Left untreated, gum disease can lead to tooth, bone, and tissue loss and eventually enter the blood stream. Therefore, it is critical to take care of your oral and overall health by brushing, flossing, and maintaining dental check-ups.

Gum disease is reversible in its early stage, gingivitis. However, after it advances, it can only be controlled. When it has advanced, deep cleaning may be necessary. For treatment, we clean the pockets in the gums around the teeth. We will remove plaque, tartar, and bacteria and smooth the tooth root. To reduce inflammation, toxins are flushed from the area.

Is it time to see the dentist? If it is, we recommend scheduling an appointment to have your mouth, teeth, and gums examined. Schedule your appointment today by calling our friendly team at 281-809-4902.