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You\u2019re brushing your teeth one night, and when you look down in the sink, you notice a distinct color to your saliva. Your gums have been bleeding whenever you brush your teeth, and according to what you\u2019ve read online, this may be an indication that you have gum disease. When it comes to treating gum disease, there are typically two approaches trained doctors can use: non-surgical<\/a> and surgical periodontal therapy. Of course, non-surgical is less invasive, but what does it actually entail? Today, we\u2019re going to discuss how it works and why it could be exactly what your smile needs to be healthy again. Gum disease<\/a> (also known as periodontal disease) is an infection of the gums and bone that surround\/support your teeth. Its early symptoms include red, swollen, and puffy gums that bleed during brushing and flossing. Years of neglect may cause the teeth to become loose and even fall out! Periodontal disease occurs when hardened plaque and bacteria (known as calculus) are allowed to build up under the gum line for an extended period of time. It is usually brought on by a lack of oral hygiene, and it is made worse by patients who smoke or have other systemic diseases such as uncontrolled diabetes. As it develops, the bacteria grows in the spaces between your teeth and gums. This bacterial plaque causes an inflammatory reaction that causes the bone to dissolve from the teeth, causing the noticeable signs of bleeding gums and tooth looseness.<\/p>\n In order to control this infection, non-surgical periodontal is the initial therapy of choice to break up, clear away, and eliminate this harmful bacteria. It\u2019s a much less invasive alternative to surgical treatment where the affected tissue is physically removed.<\/p>\n This approach to treatment involves something called a \u201cdeep cleaning,\u201d (also known as scaling and root planing). The \u201cdeep cleaning\u201d is used to clean deep under the gum line to remove the hardened bacterial plaque and other bacterial deposits.<\/p>\n When you visit a periodontist (a gum disease specialist), they will start by first lightly numbing the area they intend to clean. Typically it only takes a small bit of local anesthesia to help a patient be completely comfortable during the procedure. Using specialized \u00a0instruments called scalers , your periodontist will clean the area above and below your gum line to remove the built up plaque, tartar, and calculus. Sometimes, the periodontist may use an ultrasonic device to remove the difficult and hard to remove deposits.\u00a0 This process of thorough scaling will leave your root surfaces smooth and non-plaque retentive. With the removal of these deposits, the body can now heal itself and lessen the size of periodontal pockets.\u00a0 This may decrease the looseness of teeth and should eliminate the bleeding that occurs when you brush and floss.<\/p>\n Depending on your particular situation, a complete scaling and root planing treatment can take one or multiple visits. This will be determined by the extent of your gum disease. Afterward, your doctor may choose to utilize antibiotic and\/or antiseptic therapy as well.<\/p>\n In the end, these treatments are excellent at stopping initial gum disease from damaging your smile.\u00a0 Advanced periodontal disease may require minor surgery as well to access more deeply hidden hardened deposits. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms of gum disease that we listed earlier, be sure to contact a periodontist sooner rather than later for treatment. The sooner they can see you, the more likely your periodontist will be able to use these quick and conservative procedures to solve your problem. Ultimately, they\u2019ll make sure your smile is clean, healthy, and protected for the future.<\/p>\n About the Author<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Dr. Zachary Carnow<\/em><\/a> is a board-certified periodontist and third-generation dentist based in Frisco, TX. Dr. Carnow received his specialty training from the renowned Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, and he uses his extensive knowledge every day to save and protect people\u2019s smiles using non-invasive treatments. He currently practices at Frisco Periodontics and Dental Implants, and he can be reached via his <\/em>website<\/em><\/a> or by phone at <\/em>(214) 619-4990.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" You\u2019re brushing your teeth one night, and when you look down in the sink, you notice a distinct color to your saliva. Your gums have been bleeding whenever you brush your teeth, and according to what you\u2019ve read online, this may be an indication that you have gum disease. When it comes to treating gum […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n
\n<\/p>\nHow Non-Surgical Periodontal Therapy Works<\/h2>\n
What This Means for You<\/h2>\n