Your gums do more than frame your smile. They anchor your teeth, protect sensitive roots, and serve as your mouth’s first line of defense against bacteria. When gum health declines, the consequences extend far beyond bleeding during brushing. Periodontal hygiene focuses on maintaining healthy gums through professional care and daily habits that prevent gum disease from taking hold.
At Ocean Breeze Prosthodontics, Dr. Nicholas Goetz and Dr. Catherine Gavalas provide thorough periodontal care tailored to your individual needs. Their training includes advanced techniques for detecting early warning signs and treating gum disease before it progresses. With a focus on prevention and patient education, our team helps you maintain the foundation that keeps your smile strong for years to come.
Healthy gums provide the foundation for a strong smile, yet millions of Americans struggle with gum disease without realizing it. According to the American Dental Association, chronic periodontitis affects 47.2% of adults over 30 in the United States. This widespread condition develops when plaque builds up along the gumline and hardens into tartar. The bacteria in these deposits trigger inflammation that damages gum tissue and eventually destroys the bone supporting your teeth.
Early gum disease, called gingivitis, causes red, swollen gums that bleed when you brush or floss. At this stage, the condition remains reversible with improved home care and professional cleaning. But without intervention, gingivitis progresses to periodontitis, where gums pull away from teeth and form pockets that harbor more bacteria. Deep cleaning becomes necessary to remove deposits below the gumline and give your gums a chance to heal.
The connection between oral health and overall wellness makes periodontal hygiene even more important. Research links gum disease to heart disease, diabetes complications, and respiratory problems. Inflammation in your mouth can spread throughout your body, affecting organs far from your teeth. Regular periodontal maintenance protects not just your smile, but your long-term health.
Specialized prosthodontic treatments to restore function and beauty with financing options for complex dental care.
Every periodontal hygiene visit begins with a careful examination of your gums. Your hygienist uses a small probe to measure the depth of pockets between your teeth and gums. Healthy pockets measure three millimeters or less, while deeper measurements indicate gum disease. This process, called periodontal charting, creates a map of your gum health and helps track changes over time.
We also assess signs of inflammation, check for bleeding, and evaluate how firmly your gums attach to your teeth. Digital radiographs reveal bone loss that may not be visible during a visual exam. Together, these assessments give us a complete picture of your periodontal status and guide our treatment recommendations.
When pockets exceed three millimeters, standard cleaning may not remove all the tartar below your gumline. Scaling and root planing offers a more thorough approach. Scaling removes plaque and tartar from tooth surfaces and beneath the gums, while root planing smooths rough spots on tooth roots where bacteria tend to gather. This process helps your gums reattach to clean, smooth tooth surfaces.
Most patients tolerate deep cleaning well with local anesthesia to keep you comfortable. Depending on the extent of buildup, we may treat one section of your mouth per visit or complete all areas in a single appointment. After treatment, your gums may feel tender for a few days, but proper care allows them to heal and tighten around your teeth.
After initial treatment, regular maintenance visits help prevent gum disease from returning. Most patients with a history of periodontal problems benefit from cleanings every three to four months instead of the standard six-month interval. These shorter intervals give us more chances to remove plaque before it hardens and causes new inflammation.
Maintenance visits include careful cleaning of areas prone to buildup, pocket depth measurements to monitor your progress, and reinforcement of home care techniques. We also watch for early signs of recurrence so we can address problems while they’re still minor. Consistent maintenance makes a significant difference in keeping your gums healthy long-term.
Our practice offers a range of periodontal treatments designed to address gum disease at every stage.
What you do at home between dental visits plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy gums. Professional treatment provides the foundation, but daily habits determine whether your gums stay healthy. Brush twice a day using a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Hold your brush at a 45-degree angle to your gumline and use gentle circular motions to clean along the gum margin where plaque accumulates. Aggressive brushing damages delicate gum tissue, so let the bristles do the work without applying excessive pressure.
Flossing once daily removes plaque between teeth where your toothbrush can’t reach. Slide the floss gently between each tooth, curve it into a C-shape against one tooth surface, and move it up and down beneath the gumline. Then repeat on the adjacent tooth before moving to the next space. If traditional floss feels awkward, try floss picks, interdental brushes, or water flossers, which can be just as effective when used correctly.
Other lifestyle factors affect your gum health too. Smoking increases your risk of gum disease and slows healing after treatment. A diet high in sugar feeds the bacteria that cause inflammation. Managing stress, staying hydrated, and controlling conditions like diabetes all contribute to healthier gums. Your home care routine works best when combined with smart lifestyle choices and regular professional support.
Recognizing the warning signs of gum disease helps you seek treatment before the condition advances. Pay attention to changes in your gums. Bleeding during brushing or flossing often signals inflammation, even if you don’t feel pain. Persistent bad breath that doesn’t improve with brushing may indicate bacteria hiding in deep pockets. Receding gums expose more of your tooth surface and can make teeth look longer than before. You might also notice loose teeth, changes in your bite, or gaps developing between teeth that used to fit together snugly.
Some people experience tender or swollen gums, while others have no obvious symptoms until the disease reaches an advanced stage. That’s why regular dental visits matter. Professional exams catch problems you might miss on your own, giving us the chance to intervene before extensive damage occurs. If you notice any concerning symptoms, schedule an evaluation rather than waiting for your next routine appointment.
Healthy gums create the foundation for successful restorative and cosmetic procedures. If you’re considering dental implants, your gums must be free of active infection before implant placement. Untreated gum disease can lead to implant failure, so addressing periodontal issues first protects your investment. Similarly, fixed and removable prosthodontics rely on healthy gum tissue to support restorations properly and maintain long-term success.
Healthy gums form the foundation for a lasting smile. Dr. Catherine Gavalas earned her Fellowship in the Academy of General Dentistry and brings thoughtful, patient-centered care to every periodontal hygiene visit. Dr. Nicholas Goetz’s specialized training as one of only 150 maxillofacial prosthodontists in the country gives him unique insight into how gum health affects complex restorative treatments. Together, our team provides thorough periodontal care that keeps your mouth healthy.
Whether you need a routine cleaning, treatment for gum disease, or ongoing maintenance after previous therapy, we tailor our approach to your specific situation. From prevention to treatment, we partner with you to protect your gums and preserve your natural teeth. Ready to take better care of your gum health? Contact us today to schedule your periodontal hygiene appointment and discover how we can help you maintain a strong, healthy smile.
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