Periodontists often see patients who are perplexed to have gum problems although they maintain good oral hygiene habits.
Gum disease, which occurs when the bacteria found in plaque and tartar attack the gums, can develop for a number of reasons.
While brushing and flossing can go a long way to keep oral bacteria at bay, those habits are not foolproof. Ultimately, patients who brush twice a day and floss daily still may end up needing to seek treatment from a periodontist.
For example, a patient’s technique may not sufficiently target the gumline. The patient may not quite guide the brush all the way to the gumline, or may not use the floss thoroughly enough to remove all of the plaque in the area.
Alternatively, patients may not be brushing for a long enough period of time. This too can be insufficient to remove plaque.
Other patients may not get their teeth cleaned professionally on a regular basis. Brushing and flossing alone generally are not sufficient to remove all plaque from the gumline, and the plaque will accumulate to the extent that it can cause gum disease. This is why dentists recommend that their patients have cleanings and checkups every six months.
Fortunately, patients can get treatment for their gum disease, and when it’s caught in the earliest stages, that treatment can be non-invasive.
Patients who are treated for one occurrence of periodontitis have an increased risk for a relapse, though. To reduce the likelihood of that outcome, be sure to get instruction in proper brushing technique and stick to a semiannual schedule of dental appointments.
If you have trouble with inflamed gums despite fastidious brushing and flossing, check in with Dr. Beth Tomlin to make sure you’re using the right technique and for other tips on how you can eliminate the problem.