Tips About Treating Your Periodontal Disease Within the Walls of Your Own Home

If you have red, swollen, and bleeding gums as well as chronic bad breath, there is a chance you might suffer from periodontal disease, which is also known as gum disease.

If this is the case, it’s very important to visit Dr. Barry Kinney and receive the necessary treatment. After your gums have been treated, it’s important to further treat them at home. You can do so by doing the following things:

Step 1: It’s important to floss your teeth at least once per day. This will help you clean the hard-to-reach areas of your mouth from the plaque and bacteria that infect and irritate your gums. Make sure to thoroughly floss in and around the gumline, but be gentle as you do so. If you aren’t sure how to properly floss, please feel free to ask your dentist for guidance.

Step 2: Brush your teeth two to three times a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush. As you brush, it’s best to use fluoride toothpaste. However, if your dentist recommended using a paste that contains the antibacterial ingredient triclosan, it’s best to use that paste instead.

Step 3: If you have a water irrigator, like Water Pik or Hydro Floss, it’s recommended to irrigate your smile twice per day. Doing so can fight your periodontal disease, massage your gums, remove plaque from your smile, and clean around dental work, like dental crowns, bridges, and implants.

Step 4: Rinse your mouth with antimicrobial mouthwash two to three times a day if possible. This will help reduce the bacteria in your mouth and prevent further infection. However, if your dentist recommended rinsing with a prescribed mouthwash, use that product instead.

Step 5: If your dentist prescribed an antibiotic gel, it’s best to apply it to your gums twice a day after you have brushed, flossed, and irrigated your teeth. This will help kill bacteria and will also help you keep your periodontal disease under control.

Step 6: Take the oral antibiotics that your dentist prescribed to you. This will kill the periodontal infection and will prevent the formation of bacterial colonies, especially after a surgical gum treatment. Make sure you take the medication as recommended.

Doing these things will increase your chances of eliminating gum disease from your smile. If you have any questions or if you would like to learn more about gum disease in San Francisco, California, then please call Barry Kinney at 415-647-7077 and talk to a member of our dental team. We look forward to helping you!