Periodontal disease is a serious oral condition that affects millions of people across the country. Those that have a periodontal disease, such as gingivitis, could experience painful recession of the gums. If you are one of the millions of people that are struggling with periodontal disease, there are four tips that should be followed that will help you recover.
Change Habits
If you are suffering periodontal disease, the first thing that you will need to do is change your habits and lifestyle. A range of different factors causes periodontal disease. One reason people get it is because they are not caring for their teeth properly. If you are not brushing enough or using floss, it could cause gum inflammation. Other causes of it include smoking, drinking too much alcohol, taking drugs, or simply not eating well. The best thing that you can do to stop gingivitis is to start taking care of your teeth, following a better diet, and try to cut out smoking and alcohol. You should also start to use a mouthwash and toothpaste that is designed for people with gum disease.
If you are the type of person who is just forgetful about these necessary hygienic tasks, getting into the habit isn’t really too much of a struggle. Set alarms on your phone that let you know that it’s time to brush, floss, or whatnot. Another habit that you may need to change includes the things that you consume. For example, you may be drinking too much soda and that could be affecting your situation. If so, set goals. If you want to go cold turkey, then it might be better to start at the beginning of the month. This will help you to monitor your goal overtime and you can look back and say, “I have been soda-free for two months!” Whatever habits you need to change can be done, and so you should never give up. Just set goals and stick to it. Self-discipline is key!
Develop a Plan with a Professional
When you have gingivitis or another gum disease, the next thing that you need to do is develop a plan with a professional. Dentists, oral surgeon, and those who provide orthodontic services, will be able to provide services to help you relieve the gingivitis symptoms. In many of these cases, it will require some type of procedure to help repair the gums. The type of procedure that is needed will end up varying quite a bit from one person to the next. In many cases the procedure will require removing tissue from one area of the mouth and then placing it in an area to help strengthen the remaining gums. However, an oral surgeon may be able to determine an easier treatment plan that works for your situation.
If you do decide to go the oral surgery route, then you need to understand that this isn’t a fix-all situation. There is no point in having your situation fixed if you don’t plan on making some life changes to keep up with your dental health. See surgery as an opportunity to somewhat erase some mistakes and move forward with life with another chance with your dental health.
Follow Plan for Recovery
After you have had the procedure, the next thing that you need to do to continue the recovery process is to follow the prescribed plan. The surgeon who provided you with the procedure will also give you tips on how to recover. In some cases, they will also prescribe you with medication to the ease the pain. However, this can often be done by simply taking over the counter medication. After the surgery you will need to be very careful and gentle with your teeth and gums. It is often recommended to avoid eating hard to chew foods, gum, and brushing your teeth too hard. You will likely also have follow up visits with the surgeon in the weeks following the procedure.
Continue to Monitor for Symptoms
The fourth tip to follow if you have periodontal disease is to continue to monitor for symptoms. Periodontal symptoms often include bleeding of the gums, noticeable raising of the gums, and pain in the gums when chewing. If you notice any of these symptoms after your procedure, you should reach out to your oral surgeon immediately. Furthermore, you should be sure that you continue to see your dentist and other oral care professionals on a regular basis. Doing this will help to ensure that your dentist will be able to identify gingivitis symptoms early, which can then help to avoid the need for another procedure in the future.
In conclusion, periodontal disease is a painful oral disease that affects millions of people across the country. If you are suffering from periodontal disease, there are several tips that should be followed to ensure that you are able to recover from the disease and avoid getting it again in the future.