Questions About Non-Surgical Gum Treatments

San Antonio, Texas

What are the advantages of having gum treatments?

• Allows the gums to firmly reattach to the teeth
• Stops gums from bleeding
• Reduces swelling of the gums
• Eases gum tenderness and reduces tooth sensitivity due to teeth receding from the gums and exposing the root
• Prevents tooth and bone loss attributable to gum disease

How long do gum treatments take and are they painful?

The length of treatment depends on the extent of gum damage. The mouth is divided into quadrants, with one or more quadrants treated at each visit. This generally translates into two to four visits to get the entire gum area thoroughly cleaned with each root planed, as needed. The area is numbed with local anesthetic injections to reduce pain.

How can I speed healing and reduce pain?

• Rinse your mouth every few hours with a solution of warm salt water (1/2 teaspoon table salt dissolved in 8 ounces of water).
• Wait at least two hours for the numbing injection to wear off before eating, to avoid biting your lip, the insides of your mouth or your tongue.
• Avoid tobacco products for at least 72 hours to prevent further irritation.
• Use an extra-soft toothbrush to clean your teeth for two or three days and continue to floss, but do so gently.
• If you experience pain, which should be minimal, take over-the-counter painkillers. Do not use aspirin, which reduces the blood's clotting ability. Instead use ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
• Eat soft foods such as yogurt, scrambled or poached eggs, or soups. Do not eat anything highly acidic or hard, crunchy foods that could irritate your gums.

Now that I've had gum treatment, do I still need to worry about gum disease?

Yes! Just because you've had non-surgical gum treatments does not mean you can forget about your gums. Hopefully, the treatments will have stopped further damage to your gums and teeth, and more aggressive surgical procedures will not be necessary. But you must always be on guard against the possibility of recurring gum disease. It is imperative to not only practice proper, twice-daily flossing and brushing of your teeth, but to also schedule and keep appointments for regular professional cleaning.

Bacteria are always in the human mouth. But they don't have to cause harm if you continually clear them out, along with their harmful excretions. Dr. Hale in San Antonio, Texas, is enthusiastic in teaching his patients about good dental hygiene. His staff are the same way, and when you come for your regular check-up and cleaning, we will give you informative feed-back on the state of your teeth, congratulate you on your previous six months of good dental care, and encourage you to continue it. You can ask any of us questions, and we'll get you a clear answer. Call or email us today for your next check-up and cleaning.