What Can I Do About Receding Gums?

Receding Gums

What Can I Do About Receding Gums?

If not notice you have inflammation around your gums, or they are starting to recede it may be time to consult with a Periodontist. Gum recession should be treated to avoid further issues, or even tooth loss. Receding gums can be caused by periodontal disease or gum disease. Typically healthy gums are pink, but with gum recession the tissue is wearing away leaving more of your teeth exposed. Attending regular exams in our office, and practicing good oral hygiene habits can ensure you stay on top of receding gums, so they do not continue to get worse over time.

What Are Symptoms of Receding Gums?

You may notice any of the following if you have receding gums.

  • Swollen or red gums
  • Bad breath
  • Loose teeth
  • Bad taste in your mouth
  • Pain or tenderness around gums or mouth

What Causes Gum Recession?

Gum recession can be caused by multiple things. Themost common cause of gum recession isperiodontal disease or gum disease. Other causes can be old age, poor oral hygiene, or medicalconditions. Another factor could be the toothbrush you are using. Check to make sure you are using asoft bristle tooth brush,and make sure you are gently brushing at least twice a day. Abrasive brushescan actually damage your gums as you brush if you are not careful.

Other Causes of Gum Recession

  • Injury or trauma to the mouth
  • Teeth alignment issues
  • Smoking or tobacco use
  • Dentures that do not fit properly and rub on the gums
  • Teeth Grinding

What Are My Treatment Options for Receding Gums?

Our staff are trained to check each patient’s gum tissue. Gum recession happens gradually, and it is important to visit out office twice a year to stay on top of any potential issues. Our team can help you keep your gums in good condition and prevent them from getting worse.

Depending on how severe the gums are will determine the course of treatment recommended. We look at the tooth brush you are using and your oral hygiene habits. Using a daily rinse that helps to fight plaque or a dental pick can help to reach those hard areas.

If pockets have formed around the affected gums, patients can have a deep cleaning done called scaling and root planing. This treatment removes and cleans the plaque on the tooth and root surfaces. Scaling and root planing also helps to heal gum tissue and shrink periodontal pockets where bacteria hides. This treatment helps to prevent further infection, and keeps your gums looking and feeling healthy. Gums will recede less and this treatment helps to restore damaged gums.

How Can I Schedule an Appointment?

Taking charge of your oral health is the key to keeping your gums and teeth looking and feeling healthy. If you notice your gums are receding, and would like to find out more about gum recession treatment contact our office today.

Our office has flexible hours and we do our best to accommodate our patients. If you would like to make an appointment, contact our office and our friendly staff will be happy to assist you!

How Do I Help Tooth Pain?

Tooth Pain

If you think you may have a dental emergency it is important to know what to do to ensure your issue is addressed as soon as possible. Our office provides same day or next day appointments to accommodate our patients that need immediate treatment.

One of the most common dental emergencies that patients experience is tooth pain. There are tips you can try at home if the tooth pain does not go away while you wait for an appointment in our office. Pain is a way of our body sending a message that something is wrong. Typically, if patients experience pain this means there is a problem that must be addressed.

There are many causes for tooth pain such as tooth decay, issues with a filling, tooth fracture, or infection. If you have any of the below signs you may have an infection, and you must be seen right away.

  • Fever
  • Swollen or red gums
  • Blood or pus around tooth 
  • Throbbing pain that does not go away
  • Swollen or tender face or jaw

What Can I Do at Home to Relieve Tooth Pain?

There are remedies patients can use at home to help treat tooth pain while they wait to be seen in our office. These remedies can help reduce pain and keep you comfortable.

  • Take an anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen.
  • Use a pain relief gel on the area.
  • Apply a cold compress covered with a cloth to the area to help reduce inflammation for 20 minutes each time.
  • If you have a hot compress this can also be used on the area to help relieve pain.
  • Peppermint tea bags can be used on the area and are known to help ease oral pain.
  • Clove oil can be used on the area and is known to help reduce inflammation or numb oral pain.

Looking to Make an Appointment to Address Tooth Pain?

If you have tooth pain that does not go away we recommend making an appointment to be seen in our office. Our staff will provide a thorough exam to help identify the cause and address your tooth pain. X-rays may be taken to get a closer look at the issue. We will recommend treatment options, and always address serious issues immediately. 

Patients can prevent tooth pain by practicing good oral hygiene habits at home. Brushing and flossing each day is important as well as eating a healthy diet, and avoiding high sugar foods or drinks. We also recommend to avoid hard food items that may cause a crack or injury to your teeth. Regular dental cleanings and exams in our office can help keep your mouth and teeth feeling great.

If you have tooth pain and would like to make an appointment, please call our office and our staff will make sure you are seen as soon as possible!

Is Oral Surgery Worth It?

Oral Surgery

You may have been recommended to have oral surgery, and are concerned if you should go through with it or not. Oral surgery has many benefits, and patients need to weigh their options. Our staff will only recommend oral surgery if it is absolutely necessary, or if the patient is unhappy with their mouth, jaw, or smile. 

Our team is here to work with each patient to address their goals, and to keep your teeth and mouth healthy and feeing great. We have an extensive consultation process to discuss all oral surgery options or recommendations. Our team will work with each patient to help them choose the best option.

Why Do You Need Oral Surgery?

When a patient is evaluating their oral surgery decision, it is important to think about why you need the oral surgery. If the surgery is to correct a serious condition or complex issue this should weigh into your decision. Oral surgery does involve recovery, but your oral health is more important than the time it takes for the surgery and recovery. 

With our high end technology, our patients receive the very best care. Your surgery can be done quickly and with minimal recovery depending on what is required. Our staff is available to provide you with all of the necessary support and supplies for a successful oral surgery.

What Are Your Alternatives to Oral Surgery?

When deciding to have oral surgery many patients would like to discuss if there are any alternatives instead of surgery. Part of our evaluation process is to discuss what alternatives are available, and give our patients all of their options. For example, if you have issues with snoring we may advise you try a night time mouthguard to help before we explore corrective surgery. 

In some cases there are no alternatives to oral surgery, and the situation is serious and needs to be addressed immediately. An example of this type of situation would be an impacted tooth or an infected tooth.

Will Oral Surgery Give Me a Better Quality of Life?

If oral surgery will give you a better quality of life and improve your appearance this is a good reason to go through with your decision. Surgery that corrects facial issues or replaces missing teeth to improve your appearance will benefit you immensely. In addition, if the oral surgery is to remove an infected or impacted tooth there is no alternative, and waiting is not an option.

Our team wants you to stay healthy, and if oral surgery is needed to keep you looking and feeing great, we will give you the very best care available. Our team uses the latest technology to help make your oral surgery a smooth process. We want our patients to remain relaxed and pain free. Our team is here for you every step of the way to ensure your oral surgery is a success! Patients can trust our team to help you make the right decision about your oral health.

Looking to Schedule an Appointment?

If you are interested in finding out more about your oral surgery options, or have a concern you would like to discuss, contact our office to set up your oral surgery consultation.

Our staff is happy to help schedule an appointment for you, and answer any questions or concerns you have about your oral health. We can help you take charge of your oral health, and get you on the road to a beautiful smile.