You are getting ready for bed. You are brushing your teeth and you notice your gums are a little puffy. They don’t hurt or anything, but it makes you glance at the dental floss that you have nearby.
When’s the last time you flossed? You aren’t sure, but you decide that you will tonight. As soon as you begin, you remember why you don’t do this every day. Then you notice something else. Your gums are bleeding. Is that a good thing or a bad thing?
Bleeding gums are bad. In fact, it’s one of the signs of gingivitis, which is mild gum disease. Those swollen, red gums indicate a gum infection as well.
This is not something you should ignore.
Periodontal disease has been linked to a number of other health problems, and it is the leading cause of tooth loss in the United States.
While prevention is always our preference, you can get the benefit of advanced periodontal treatments. The LANAP treatment uses dental lasers to remove the infection from your mouth.
Whatever your situation, plan to visit White & White Family Dentistry in Paducah, KY soon. Call 270-355-7599 to make an appointment.
Why We Use Lasers
Historically, gum surgery has been a common treatment for advanced gum disease, also known as periodontitis.
This kind of procedure involves removing infected gum tissue with a scalpel. While this does the job it is intended to do, it often involves removing healthy tissue as well. Furthermore, the gums often need to be closed with sutures after this kind of procedure. And if you have sutures, you will need to come back to have them removed.
LANAP provides the benefits of gum surgery without the drawbacks. LANAP is an acronym for Laser-Assisted New Attachment Procedure. Dental lasers are practically painless, although we do offer anesthetic and dental sedation to be sure.
With the laser, we can target the infected tissue more precisely. This means you preserve more of your healthy tissue. At the same time, the laser seals the healthy tissue, so you don’t need sutures. This reduces your recovery time as well.
As an added bonus, LANAP is the only FDA-approved periodontal treatment that is proven to regenerate tissue and bone.
When to Seek Treatment
As we mentioned in the introduction, you should be aware of red and swollen gums and gums that bleed when you brush and floss. Healthy gums are pink and firm and don’t bleed with routine oral care.
As your infection worsens, you may develop other symptoms:
- Persistent bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth
- Pain when chewing
- Sore or tender gums
- Gums that bleed easily
- Changes to how your teeth fit together
- Loose teeth
Don’t wait to schedule an appointment if you notice any of those signs. The sooner you seek treatment, the sooner you will restore your healthy smile.
Be Kind to Your Gums
To keep your smile in good shape, you need to care for your gums as well. To do that, keep it simple. Remember to brush and floss daily. Remember to visit us for routine checkups. And when needed, contact us to treat gum infections as soon as possible.
To visit our Paducah, KY dental office, call White & White Family Dentistry today at 270-355-7599 or schedule online.