Gum Disease Treatments

Gum Disease Treatments Holland Dentist

Do your gums bleed when you floss? Are your gums red or swollen? If so, ask Dr. Habecker about starting gum disease treatments. The sooner we’re able to treat gum disease, the better your outcome.

About 47.2% of Americans age 30 and older have periodontal disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Here’s what else you need to know.

Stages of Gum Disease

All gum disease starts as plaque buildup. Plaque is a sticky, invisible film of bacteria that lives inside the mouth. As the bacteria consume sugar, they produce an acid that attacks your gums and enamel. If left untreated, plaque will harden into tartar which can only be removed by a dental professional.

If you have plaque and tartar buildup, your gums may feel sore and tender. They may also be swollen, puffy, or red. This is because the bacteria is irritating your gums and causing inflammation—a condition called gingivitis.

Gingivitis is the earliest stage of gum disease. It’s also the only stage you can reverse by practicing good oral hygiene. Once gum disease progresses to periodontitis, you won’t be able to cure it. Instead, you’ll only be able to manage your symptoms.

Signs of Gum Disease

  • Bleeding gums
  • Swollen or puffy gums
  • Tender gums
  • Red gums
  • Receding gums
  • Tooth sensitivity
  • Loose teeth
  • Bad breath

Do you recognize any of the above symptoms? If so, please call our office to schedule an appointment as soon as possible.

How We Treat Gingivitis

You can reverse gingivitis by practicing good oral hygiene. This means brushing your teeth twice a day for at least two minutes at a time. You’ll also need to floss once a day to remove any plaque or food particles caught between teeth.

During this time, it’s also important that you don’t skip any teeth cleanings with us. While you can remove plaque at home, only a skilled dental professional can remove tartar.

Taking care of your oral health is like nurturing a garden. If you neglect a garden, it’ll get overrun with weeds. Likewise, if you neglect your oral health, your mouth will get overrun with bacteria. Brushing and flossing will help you maintain a healthy smile.

Related: 5 Tips for Preventing Gum Disease →

How We Treat Periodontitis

Patients with gum disease tend to have deep gingival (gum) pockets around their teeth. As such, Dr. Habecker may recommend scaling and root planing for periodontitis.

During the procedure, we’ll remove plaque and tartar trapped beneath the gum line. We’ll also smooth out the tooth roots so plaque has fewer places to hide.

Schedule an Appointment With Dr. Habecker

Dr. Brenton Habecker is an experienced family dentist in Holland, MI. As such, he’ll be able to diagnose and treat your gum disease so you can maintain a healthy smile.

To request an appointment, please call Macatawa Smiles at (616) 396-7524. You may also fill out our online contact form and someone from our team will reach out to you soon.

COVID-19 UPDATE FROM DR. HABECKER AND HIS TEAM

Dear Patient Family,

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a difficult time for all of us. Many of you have been forced to wait for dental care and we appreciate your understanding while we kept our office closed to follow orders from the Governor's Office.

We are happy to say that we are opening our office for all patient treatment on June 1st, 2020. Our hours of operation will go back to normal, Monday-Thursday 8am - 5pm. We want you to know that there will be some changes at your next appointment. Please be patient with us as our protocols will inevitably change as new guidelines are released.

  • We ask that you use our parking lot as the waiting room.
  • Please wear a mask when you come into the office and leave it on until entering the treatment room. Homemade is acceptable.
  • Only the person receiving treatment should come in the building, all others will be asked to wait in the car if at all possible. The exception will be for our minor patients who may have one parent accompany them.
  • We will be asking you some questions when you arrive at the office and we will also be taking your temperature.
  • We will not be able to offer magazines, drinks, or toys at this time as they cannot be disinfected to our standards. Eventually this will change and we will be happy to offer our amenities once again.

These changes have been made to adhere to the latest CDC guidelines and for the benefit of our patients and our staff. We want you to know that our office has always taken the safety of our patients very seriously and that we will continue to follow the highest levels of sterilization and disinfection to keep you protected. If you would like more information on what measures we have taken we would be more than happy to answer any questions you may have.

We cannot say how excited we are to see all of our patients again and to provide for their dental needs. We look forward to seeing all of your smiling faces soon!

Dr. Habecker and Team