South River Dental Care

Periodontal Dentistry

Periodontal Dentistry

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Scaling & Root Planing

Deep Cleaning for Healthier Gums

Scaling and root planing, also known as a deep cleaning, is one of the most effective ways to treat moderate periodontal disease before it worsens. This procedure consists of two key steps:


  • Scaling: Removing plaque, tartar, and bacteria from above and below the gum line to stop infection.


  • Root Planing: Smoothing the tooth roots to encourage gum reattachment and prevent bacteria buildup.


Following a deep cleaning, routine maintenance cleanings and strong oral hygiene habits are essential to keep gum disease from returning.

Oral Hygiene

Maintaining good oral hygiene is one of the most important things you can do for your teeth and gums. Healthy teeth not only enable you to look and feel good, but they also make it possible to eat and speak properly. Good oral health is important to your overall well-being. Daily preventive care, including proper brushing and flossing, will help stop problems before they develop.

Oral Hygiene

Maintaining good oral hygiene is one of the most important things you can do for your teeth and gums. Healthy teeth not only enable you to look and feel good, but they also make it possible to eat and speak properly. Good oral health is important to your overall well-being. Daily preventive care, including proper brushing and flossing, will help stop problems before they develop.

Simple Steps for Preventing Dental Issues

In between regular visits to the dentist, there are simple steps that each of us can take to greatly decrease the risk of developing tooth decay, gum disease and other dental problems. These include:


  • Brush thoroughly twice a day and floss daily


  • Eat a balanced diet and limit snacks between meals


  • Use dental products that contain fluoride, including toothpaste


  • Rinse with a fluoride mouth rinse if your dentist advises you to


  • Make sure that your children under 12 drink fluoridated water or take a fluoride supplement if they live in a non-fluoridated area

Halitosis

Halitosis is the sophisticated word for "bad breath". Depending on the cause, bad breath may strike on occasion or may be a more persistent condition. The most common cause of bad breath is bacteria. Because the mouth is moist and warm, it creates perfect conditions for the millions of bacteria that live in the mouth. Approximately 80% of bad breath is caused by something in the mouth.


Bad breath caused by bacteria in the mouth can easily be treated. Brushing your teeth, tongue and gums after meals as well as flossing and rinsing with mouthwash will usually take care of the problem. Regular visits to the dentist should be made for dental examinations and for professional teeth and gum cleaning.

Halitosis

Halitosis is the sophisticated word for "bad breath". Depending on the cause, bad breath may strike on occasion or may be a more persistent condition. The most common cause of bad breath is bacteria. Because the mouth is moist and warm, it creates perfect conditions for the millions of bacteria that live in the mouth. Approximately 80% of bad breath is caused by something in the mouth.


Bad breath caused by bacteria in the mouth can easily be treated. Brushing your teeth, tongue and gums after meals as well as flossing and rinsing with mouthwash will usually take care of the problem. Regular visits to the dentist should be made for dental examinations and for professional teeth and gum cleaning.

Bad breath may be caused by the following:

  • Poor dental hygiene - poor oral hygiene can leave food particles to decay in the mouth


  • External agents, including foods such as garlic, onions, and coffee, as well as cigarettes and chewing tobacco


  • Systemic illnesses such as diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease, lung disease, sinus disease, reflux disease and others
  • Respiratory-tract infections such as throat infections, sinus infections, and lung infections


  • Dry mouth caused by salivary gland problems or by breathing through the mouth


  • Infections in the mouth, such as periodontal (gum) disease

Bad breath may be caused by the following:

  • Poor dental hygiene - poor oral hygiene can leave food particles to decay in the mouth


  • External agents, including foods such as garlic, onions, and coffee, as well as cigarettes and chewing tobacco


  • Systemic illnesses such as diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease, lung disease, sinus disease, reflux disease and others
  • Respiratory-tract infections such as throat infections, sinus infections, and lung infections


  • Dry mouth caused by salivary gland problems or by breathing through the mouth


  • Infections in the mouth, such as periodontal (gum) disease

Bad breath may be caused by the following:

  • Poor dental hygiene - poor oral hygiene can leave food particles to decay in the mouth


  • External agents, including foods such as garlic, onions, and coffee, as well as cigarettes and chewing tobacco


  • Systemic illnesses such as diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease, lung disease, sinus disease, reflux disease and others
  • Respiratory-tract infections such as throat infections, sinus infections, and lung infections


  • Dry mouth caused by salivary gland problems or by breathing through the mouth


  • Infections in the mouth, such as periodontal (gum) disease

Understanding Halitosis

Is Your Bad Breath a Signal of Serious Health Issues?

Some types of bad breath, such as "morning mouth," are considered fairly normal and are not usually health concerns. However, persistent bad breath may be a sign of more serious problems with the gums and teeth.


Call our office promptly if you have bad breath with painful, swollen gums that bleed easily or loose teeth. We will perform a physical examination of your mouth to determine the cause. If we discover that systemic problems are the cause, we may refer you to your family physician. In severe cases of gum disease, we may recommend a doctor specialized to treat gum disease, called a periodontist.

Periodontal Therapy

The gums, ligaments, and bone around the teeth form the foundation for one's teeth. All structures are also referred to as the periodontium. When the periodontium is not healthy, it jeopardizes the teeth just as a bad foundation would threaten the stability of a house.


Signs of unhealthy periodontium include: gums that are red and bleed easily, persistent bad breath, gums that are pulled away from the tooth, loose teeth, and changes in the position or bite of the teeth. Any of these may be a sign of a problem. With proper gum treatments, however, it may be possible to return gum tissue to a healthy state.


If you're having a problem, come in and see us so we may treat it right away. The treatment usually involves a deep cleaning or root planing done under a local anesthetic, along with local antibiotic agents. If the gum disease gets too severe, it may need to be treated through surgery or extraction. This is why it is important to have it treated at the first sign of a problem.

Periodontal Therapy

The gums, ligaments, and bone around the teeth form the foundation for one's teeth. All structures are also referred to as the periodontium. When the periodontium is not healthy, it jeopardizes the teeth just as a bad foundation would threaten the stability of a house.


Signs of unhealthy periodontium include: gums that are red and bleed easily, persistent bad breath, gums that are pulled away from the tooth, loose teeth, and changes in the position or bite of the teeth. Any of these may be a sign of a problem. With proper gum treatments, however, it may be possible to return gum tissue to a healthy state.


If you're having a problem, come in and see us so we may treat it right away. The treatment usually involves a deep cleaning or root planing done under a local anesthetic, along with local antibiotic agents. If the gum disease gets too severe, it may need to be treated through surgery or extraction. This is why it is important to have it treated at the first sign of a problem.

Periodontal Therapy

The gums, ligaments, and bone around the teeth form the foundation for one's teeth. All structures are also referred to as the periodontium. When the periodontium is not healthy, it jeopardizes the teeth just as a bad foundation would threaten the stability of a house.


Signs of unhealthy periodontium include: gums that are red and bleed easily, persistent bad breath, gums that are pulled away from the tooth, loose teeth, and changes in the position or bite of the teeth. Any of these may be a sign of a problem. With proper gum treatments, however, it may be possible to return gum tissue to a healthy state.


If you're having a problem, come in and see us so we may treat it right away. The treatment usually involves a deep cleaning or root planing done under a local anesthetic, along with local antibiotic agents. If the gum disease gets too severe, it may need to be treated through surgery or extraction. This is why it is important to have it treated at the first sign of a problem.

Achieve a Healthier Smile

Expert Gum Treatments at South River Dental Care

At South River Dental Care, we take pride in offering a comprehensive range of gum treatments to keep your smile healthy and bright. Our services include Scaling & Root Planing to tackle gum disease, Crown Lengthening for those needing a little extra gum lift, Gingival Grafts for added tissue support, and Gingivectomy to remove excess gum tissue. Whatever your gum health needs, our friendly team is here to ensure you receive personalized care tailored just for you!