Many people experience blood whenever they floss or they brush their teeth. While often dismissed as overaggressive cleaning, or may be viewed as a minimal thing, you shouldn’t ignore this sign. It could very well be a symptom of gingivitis or even periodontal disease.
It is best to catch any issues with the gums as soon as possible. Today, your Newport Beach, CA dentist explains how treating your gums can be easy, and your gums truly keep your mouth safe.
Gum Issues Are Very Prevalent
Gum recession is incredibly common in the United States, but there is also still a stigma attached to the condition. People will try to alter their smile or cover their mouth with their hands more. But this is a medical issue and should be treated as such.
The underlying issue is the infection of the tissue of the gums. This will not improve significantly without the help of a trained oral health professional. So it is important to take this seriously, with the recognition that help is certainly available to you.
A Graft Might Ease Your Discomfort
The most common procedure that we perform in order to fix receding gums is what is known as a free gingival graft. This operation stretches healthy gum tissue back up to the level at which is safe. There are few complications with this form of graft, and it is well-known for being predictable.
Firstly, any infected tissue will be removed from the tooth by the dentist. They will thoroughly clean the area, then replace the gum at a proper level. That’s it!
This simple procedure takes around 45 minutes on average, with only local anesthesia. Recovery is usually brief and pain-free, with a soft diet required for around a week. Your dentist will give you a guideline to help you along.
When the infected area is too large for gingival grafting, a periodontist might opt for a soft tissue graft. This procedure removes a piece of donor tissue from a healthy area, then attaching the material to the gum.
Most of the time, the donor material is taken from the roof of the mouth, but it can also come from other similar areas. These two pieces of material fuse together after, creating new healthy gum tissue. As is the goal of any gum graft, dentists want to ensure that the tooth’s root is covered in healthy flesh, as the root is a highly vulnerable area.
An adhesive bandage is applied to the donor site, so that it may heal on its own. And as with a gingival graft, a week-long soft diet is usually sufficient for recovery.
Have A Gum Examination Today!
If you want to know how you can set up a cleaning and examination, please give Dr. Hofkes at Balboa Dental Surgery a call at (949)630-0143. Or stop by our office here in Newport Beach, CA!
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