Austin Laser Dentist - Helen Ragsdale DDS, 11615 Angus Rd Ste 101, Austin 78759, United States (US) - Phone: 512 346-4690

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How to Sustain the Results of Periodontal Disease Treatment

Gum disease is a bacterial infection that can get out of control quickly. Periodontal disease treatment is the secret to saving your smile from inflammation, sensitivity, and loss.

While there are four stages of periodontal disease—ranging from mild gingivitis to advanced periodontitis—there are procedures that a dentist can perform to reverse or manage them, including:

After patients have received periodontal disease treatment, what can they do to ensure long-term success? Here are five tips for mastering gum health and keeping gingival bacteria at bay:

1.     At-home Oral Hygiene

The first line of defense in oral health is maintaining a consistent at-home oral hygiene routine performed twice a day, which includes:

  • Brushing teeth with a fluoride toothpaste
  • Removing food particles between teeth
  • Rinsing the mouth out with a gentle, anti-bacterial mouthwash

2.     Professional Dental Cleanings

While daily brushing and flossing help control bacteria and keep teeth clean, a dental hygienist can remove deep, caked-on tartar through professional dental cleaning. Over time, unremoved plaque hardens into tartar, which cannot be eliminated from brushing and flossing alone. If tartar isn’t eradicated, it triggers the inflammatory response of gum infection.

Most dentists recommend routine dental cleanings every six months for healthy smiles, but more frequent professional cleanings can help curb plaque and tartar accumulation for people with gum disease.

3.     Healthy Diet

A straightforward way to support gum health is to have a diet rich in vitamins and nutrients that strengthen teeth and gums, including:

  • Fresh fruits and vegetables are crunchy and full of fiber, which helps keep the teeth plaque-free.
  • Dairy products are high in calcium, which is excellent for teeth. Additionally, yogurt is full of healthy bacteria, which may help prevent cavities.
  • Nuts are low in sugar and high in fiber and minters, which encourage teeth and gum health.
  • Whole grains are full of B-vitamins, iron, and magnesium, which keeps gums, teeth, and bones strong. Whole grains also help the body better balance blood sugar.
  • Plenty of water throughout the day keeps teeth clean, which is critical in supporting gum health.
  • Teas are rich in polyphenols, which prevent oral bacteria and reduce the risk of soft tissue inflammation.

4.     No Nicotine

Cigarettes, chewing tobacco, and e-cigarettes contain the same addicting chemical: nicotine. Tobacco in any form raises your risk of developing gum disease and worsens existing gum infections. Smokers have twice the risk of developing gum disease than non-smokers. Likewise, quitting tobacco products encourages healing after treatment.

5.     Chew Sugarless Gum

The next time you’re in line at the store, look for a pack of sugar-free chewing gum with the ADA Seal. The American Dental Association suggests chewing sugarless chewing gum for 20 minutes after meals to increase saliva flow. A dry mouth can lead to cavities, which can irritate the gums and worsen gingivitis and periodontitis. Gums that contain artificial sweeteners (such as Xylitol) have many cavity-fighting benefits, including:

  • Washing away food remnants and other debris
  • Neutralizing acids produced by oral bacteria
  • Strengthening enamel

Schedule Periodontal Disease Treatment in Austin, TX

At Austin Laser Dentist, Dr. Helen Ragsdale educates patients on sustaining healthy gums after scaling and root planing or laser therapy. She offers comfort-focused, contemporary care for patients struggling with their gum health and more.

To learn more about how laser dentistry can improve your gum health, book an appointment by calling (512) 346-4690 or contact us online at your earliest convenience. 

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3 Common (Sometimes Overlooked) Symptoms of Gum Disease

The statistics are shocking: almost half of all adults have gum disease. That’s 65 million people. Although gum disease is common, most of us don’t know the symptoms. 

Gingivitis begins when mouth bacteria cause inflammation and bleeding of the gums. People may also notice that they have halitosis, or bad breath, that doesn’t go away after brushing. Gingivitis can escalate to periodontal disease, where bacteria deposits plaque deep below the gum line. 

Senior citizens and smokers have the highest risk of gingivitis and periodontal disease. The good news is that it’s possible to reverse gum disease with deep cleanings and regular care. Although, it is important to note that once the disease progresses, it can no longer be reversed, only maintained. 

How to Monitor Oral Health

Unfortunately, it’s possible to have gum disease and not realize it. That’s why it’s important to meet with a dentist every six months for teeth cleaning. 

Technicians will remove plaque and evaluate the state of patients’ mouths and gums. Here are a few signs that it’s time to schedule a cleaning. 

  1. Tooth sensitivity

If you can bite into an ice cream cone without pain, you do not have tooth sensitivity. Gum disease often causes a severe reaction to hot or cold foods, but there are other potential causes including: 

  • Cavities
  • Loose fillings
  • Exposed tooth roots
  • Cracked teeth

Tooth sensitivity is treatable by a dentist. They may recommend medication, put in fillings, or use medical-grade sealants. 

  1. Loose teeth

When bridges or dentures suddenly don’t fit anymore, the culprit could be shifting teeth. Gingivitis causes the gums to recede, providing less support for the teeth. Dentists use laser treatments to deep clean teeth, a process also called root planing and scaling. 

The results can be dramatic and patients should notice that their teeth feel more secure. If there is too much damage to the root, dentists may recommend extraction. In general, dentists try to preserve the teeth for as long as possible. 

  1. Metallic taste in the mouth

The third telltale sign of gum disease is a metallic or bitter taste in the mouth. It is not a product of eating certain foods and can arise at any time of day. This taste may linger even after flossing and brushing. 

The body’s systems are all connected, so any infection in the mouth will circulate throughout the entire body. The mouth is part of the digestive system, so gingivitis could cause migraines and stomach pain. Once the infection is cleared, peripheral symptoms should also improve.

When you talk to a dentist, make sure to inform them of your symptoms. They will be able to tell whether you need deep cleaning from a brief visual exam.

 Treating gingivitis is an ongoing process. Depending upon the severity of the disease, dentists may recommend tissue grafting or laser therapy.

Work With an Experienced, Compassionate Dental Team 

If you haven’t been to the dentist for a while, there’s no time like the present! Dr. Helen Ragsdale at Austin Laser Dentist is known for being compassionate and gentle, a winning combination for our patients. 

Whether you need a deep cleaning or dental veneers, Dr. Ragsdale can help. She focuses on cosmetic, restorative, and preventive dentistry. Our team is happy to help you get your teeth in tip-top shape.

Give us a call at (512) 346-4690 to schedule your initial consultation. If a current patient referred you, please let us know! We look forward to meeting with you!

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Does periodontal disease treatment hurt?

3d render of dental diode laser used to treat gums

Our number one tip for patients with periodontal disease (also called gum disease) is to find a dentist who offers laser therapy. This is the best way to ensure you receive the most comfortable treatment available, regardless of what stage of periodontal disease you have.

Dentists who don’t offer laser gum treatments use outdated methods to remove the tartar from along the gumline. This typically includes scalpels, drills, and stitches when surgery is necessary. Patients who visit dentists who use dental lasers experience less discomfort and pain during and after treatment.

Dental lasers eliminate the need for drills and scalpels, promote faster healing, and are much more precise than other dental tools, making the treatment process much less painful.

The different stages of gum disease require different types of treatment. Even laser dentists use traditional treatment methods to address earlier stages of periodontal disease because they are more conservative.

Continue reading to learn about the four stages of gum disease and the appropriate treatments.

1. Gingivitis

The first stage of periodontal disease often goes unnoticed because the symptoms are less apparent than the latter stages. However, bleeding gums are one of the most distinct indicators of gum disease. You may notice this when brushing or flossing.

At this first indication, patients should increase their oral hygiene by brushing more often, drinking more water, flossing daily, and using a dentist-approved mouthwash. This may reverse gingivitis without professional intervention. However, we encourage patients to seek professional dental care (most likely a regular dental cleaning) as soon as possible. If the periodontal disease advances, it will no longer be reversible.

2. Slight periodontitis

Patients with slight periodontitis continue to have bleeding gums and will experience more noticeable symptoms like persistent bad breath. Tiny pockets of disease-causing bacteria form between the teeth and gums, giving them a place to reproduce.

Dentists use scaling and root planing to treat slight periodontitis. This involves removing plaque and tartar from along the gumline and smoothing out the rough surfaces of the teeth. Though patients may experience slight discomfort during this procedure, they rarely complain about significant pain during or after. During healing, the gums shrink and periodontal pockets disappear.

Following scaling and root planing, patients should practice good oral hygiene at home to maintain a healthy mouth.

3. Moderate periodontitis

Moderate periodontal disease will experience bone loss in the teeth and jaw—though they may not notice it. At this stage, the disease enters the bloodstream and can cause inflammation throughout the body.

There are two treatment options for moderate periodontitis:

  1. Scaling and root planing
  2. Laser pocket decontamination

Laser dentists often recommend scaling and root planing as a first-step treatment, then—if necessary—laser pocket decontamination. This state-of-the-art procedure is a non-surgical treatment that removes aggressive bacteria from the periodontal pockets and promotes fast healing.

4. Advanced periodontitis

In the fourth and final stage of gum disease, the bacteria attack the bones and ligaments that secure the teeth, causing them to feel loose. The previously developed symptoms will continue and become worse. People with advanced periodontitis may also notice small pockets of puss forming in the gum tissue.

Treatment for advanced periodontitis may involved scaling and root planing, laser pocket decontamination, and laser gum surgery. Again, the final three stages of gum disease cannot be reversed, but the results of treatment can be maintained.

Comfortable Periodontal Disease Treatment in Austin, TX

If you’ve recently been diagnosed with gum disease and want to experience the benefits of laser dentistry, contact the office of Dr. Helen Ragsdale today. Our dentist has over twenty years of experience using dental lasers and is the dentist who other dentists come to for training in laser dental procedures.

Call (512) 346-4690 to schedule an appointment at Austin Laser Dentist.

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7 Common Questions About Periodontal Disease

Gum disease – Printed Diagnosis with Blurred Text on Red Background and Medical Composition – Stethoscope, Pills and Syringe. Medical Concept. 3D Render.

According to the CDC, 47.2 percent of adults 30 years old and older have periodontal disease. Also called gum disease, periodontal disease is an inflammatory disease that affects the gingiva. When left untreated the gums will pull away from the teeth, and the disease-causing bacteria will attack the bone and tissue beneath the gums.

Want to know more? Here are seven common questions about gum disease:

1. What are the most common symptoms of periodontal disease?

Gum disease doesn’t show up the same way for everyone. In many cases, patients don’t even know they have gum disease until severe damage has been done.

However, some symptoms are more common than others, such as:

  • Bleeding gums while brushing or flossing
  • Inflamed or irritated gums
  • Persistent bad breath
  • Gum recession

Don’t wait until these symptoms appear to visit the dentist. At that point, the disease may have progressed past its ability to be reversed.

2. Is gum disease curable?

There are four phases of gum disease: gingivitis, slight periodontal disease, moderate periodontal disease, and advanced periodontal disease. Dentists can only reverse or cure gum disease in the first stage. Once the disease has progressed past gingivitis, it can only be stabilized and maintained.

3. Who is at risk for gum disease?

Factors that increase a person’s risk of developing gum disease include:

  • Smoking
  • Old age
  • Poor nutrition
  • Autoimmune disorders
  • Dry mouth
  • Hormone changes
  • Genetics

4. How do dentists treat periodontal disease?

Treatment options for periodontal disease vary depending on the advancement of the disease. For patients with gingivitis, a simple dental cleaning or root planing and scaling will suffice. These methods clean the teeth and gums and disinfect the gum line so that the gingiva can begin to heal.

For more advanced stages of periodontal disease, our laser dentist offers the following treatments:

  • Laser pocket decontamination
  • Gum grafts
  • Guided tissue regeneration
  • Laser gum surgery
  • Bone grafting

Dental lasers make the treatment for gum disease much more comfortable and effective. Dentists who don’t utilize dental lasers will likely use drills, scalpels, and sutures during the treatment process.

5. Does periodontal disease affect the rest of the body in any way?

Our oral and systemic health are directly related. When one isn’t healthy, the other probably isn’t either. If left untreated, the bacteria that cause inflammation in the gums will leak into the bloodstream and spread to other areas of the body.

Consequently, patients with periodontal disease may suffer from a stroke, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and early labor.

6. Will gum disease cause tooth loss?

Tooth loss is the most common result of untreated advanced gum disease. As the bacteria eat away at the gingiva, bone, and other hard and soft tissues, the teeth no longer have the support they need to stay in place.

Patients will experience loose teeth, tooth movement, and other obvious symptoms before tooth loss occurs.

7. How can I prevent gum disease?

When it comes to maintaining good oral health, prevention really is the best policy. In addition to visiting the dentist every six months, patients should develop an effective oral hygiene routine at home. This should include:

  • Brushing twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste
  • Flossing daily
  • Rinsing with an antimicrobial mouthwash

A healthy diet is also important for avoiding periodontal disease. Fruits, veggies, protein, and dairy products are healthy-mouth staples. Try to limit starchy and sugary foods that cause an imbalance in the mouth.

For more information about gum disease, or to schedule an appointment with our Austin Laser Dentist, contact our office today at (512) 346-4690.

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Modern and Effective Periodontal Treatments

chart showing healthy tooth vs periodontal disease

Periodontal disease affects millions of Americans every single day. Most of the time, the effects of gum disease go completely unnoticed until they cannot be ignored any longer. The symptoms include:

  • Bleeding gums
  • Excess plaque and tartar
  • Periodontal pockets
  • Bone recession
  • Persistent bad breath

If left untreated, the bad bacteria can move from the mouth, into the bloodstream and travel to other parts of the body.

As dental professionals, our goal is to help patients avoid these consequences completely. That’s why we recommend regular dental cleanings every six months and teach good oral hygiene practices.

However, when patients do develop gum disease, our dentist offers the following effective and state-of-the-art periodontal treatments.

Root planing and scaling

Our Austin laser dentist prioritizes conservative, non-surgical periodontal treatments. Root planing and scaling, also called a deep dental cleaning, is just that. First, she cleans the surfaces of each tooth and the gum line. Then, using gentle techniques and effective tools, she removes plaque and tartar from below the gum line—this is the “scaling” part. Finally, she smooths out any rough spots on the tooth (planing).

This process causes the periodontal pockets to shrink and heal. Patients can then maintain good gum health through proper oral hygiene habits at home, such as brushing and flossing.

Laser pocket decontamination

For deeper periodontal pockets and more advanced forms of gum disease, laser pocket decontamination may be necessary. In the past, more invasive procedures would be necessary, but dental lasers have made treatments much simpler and safer.

During this procedure, our dentist utilizes a precise dental laser that emits a focused beam into the periodontal pockets. Through this practice, the disease-causing bacteria are eliminated, and the laser creates an environment that aids in healing. Many studies have shown that laser therapy increases the chance of recover from gum disease.

Gum grafts

Most patients with periodontal disease experience gum recession as a result of deep periodontal pockets. Once the disease has been neutralized, dentists focus on treating the damage. Gum grafts solve the issue of gum recession by using tissue from a bank or patient’s mouth.

First, the tissue (if using from the patient’s mouth) is removed with a dental laser. Then, the grafts are carefully and attached to the remaining gum tissue.

Guided Tissue Regeneration

Teeth and gums that have been damaged by periodontal disease become extremely susceptible to falling out. Guided tissue regeneration involves surgery on the gum and bone, separating tissues, and healing. In about six months, the teeth should have much more support.

Bone Grafting

Periodontal disease also attacks the jawbone, leading to bone resorption that causes the face to appear caved in. Through modern technology, dentists can regrow the bone, restoring function and appearance. Once healed, the dentist will likely replace any missing teeth with dental implants to ensure the jawbone remains strong.

Modern Periodontal Treatment in Austin, TX

When it comes to dentistry, conservative and gentle techniques are preferred. At Austin Laser Dentist, Dr. Helen Ragsdale is passionate about creating a comfortable dental experience for patients with all types of oral health needs. Laser dental treatments are her specialty for that reason!

If you or someone you love is suffering from periodontal disease, don’t wait any longer to receive treatment. The earlier, the better! Dr. Ragsdale is prepared to help eliminate the disease and restore your mouth to health. Contact our office today at (512) 346-4690 to schedule an initial consultation.