If you’ve been diagnosed with periodontitis, it’s essential that you receive gum disease treatment as soon as possible to halt the progression of the disease. But that’s not the only step you must take. Afterward, it’s important that you take good care of your teeth and gums to maintain their health, mitigate discomfort, and avoid irritating the tissue. Scroll down to learn about home care following gum disease treatment.
How to Care for Your Gums After Gum Disease Treatment
Although periodontal therapy is not a cure, it can reduce signs of inflammation, pocket depths, and detectable plaque. If you continue with your gum disease treatment and care for your teeth and gums well at home, you can stabilize the disease. Let’s explore what you can expect during the treatment and how you should care for your gums afterward.
What to Expect
After applying a local anesthetic for comfort, your dental team will use an ultrasonic scaler and hand instruments to remove dead or unhealthy tissue. Then, they will use chlorhexidine, a medicated solution, to irrigate your gingival pockets and promote quick healing. Finally, they will apply fluoride to the surface of your teeth to decrease sensitivity. Generally, two to four treatments are needed to halt the progression of the disease.
In the weeks following the treatment, you can expect that your gums will be less red and swollen and will bleed less. You may also notice that your mouth feels and tastes better. However, during the day or two immediately afterward, you may experience some more unpleasant side effects, which will gradually fade:
- Discomfort: Mild to moderate discomfort is common, and it’s often described as a slight ache or throbbing. Typically it will subside in a few hours, but it may last up to a few days. If you experience anything beyond mild discomfort after 48 hours, contact your dentist.
- Tooth Sensitivity: Your teeth may be sensitive to temperature changes and/or sweets following the procedure, but this will fade. Fluoride is applied to reduce this side effect.
- Bleeding: You may experience bleeding after the treatment, but this will decrease as your tissue heals.
- Gum Appearance: Your gingival tissue may change shape as its swelling decreases and it heals around your teeth. Your gums may also lose some redness and appear more pink. Both of these changes show that your gums are responding well to treatment.
What to Do
To maintain good oral health following gum disease treatment, take the following steps:
- Avoid hard, crunchy food. Chewing these sorts of foods may be uncomfortable for a few days. Stick to a soft diet until your gums have healed a bit. Avoid spicy foods as well, as they may irritate the sensitive tissue. In addition, if a local anesthetic is used, wait until the feeling returns to your mouth to eat so that you don’t injure your tongue or cheeks.
- Take over-the-counter painkillers. To reduce your discomfort, you may take acetaminophen or a non-aspirin analgesic.
- Use a desensitizing toothpaste. If your teeth still feel sensitive after a few days, use a desensitizing toothpaste that includes potassium nitrate or sodium fluoride. Your dentist may also prescribe a desensitizing toothpaste like Fluoridex.
- Brush gently. Use a soft-bristled brush and gentle movements to avoid irritating the gums. Make sure that you’re still thoroughly cleaning all the surfaces of your teeth. This may take a little longer than usual.
- Rinse your mouth for one to two weeks. You can do this with either a warm salt water rinse or a medicated solution, like Chlorhexidine, prescribed by your dentist. Only use these rinses for up to two weeks.
- Floss daily. Use dental floss to clean between your teeth each day. This should become a lifelong habit if it’s not already. You may also wish to use a waterpik.
- Follow any other instructions provided by your dental team. They’re the experts, after all!
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If you suspect that you may have periodontal disease, schedule a dental appointment right away. Don’t hesitate. Early detection of gum disease is crucial because as the disease progresses, its effects include bone loss, bleeding and tender gums, bad breath, altered taste, tooth mobility, and even tooth loss in some circumstances. The sooner you secure a diagnosis and begin treatment, the better your chance of preventing those extreme outcomes and protecting your teeth and gums.
So, if you’re looking for an experienced, reliable, and friendly dentist near Springfield, Missouri, contact Keen Smiles Family Dental. Our team will give you the personalized treatment you deserve using state-of-the-art technology. For exceptional and comprehensive dental care, schedule your first appointment today by calling 417-708-0556 or requesting an appointment online. We look forward to hearing from you!
