If your smile is victim of gum disease, it’s very important to treat it right away by going to Houston Cosmetic & Family Dental Associates and visiting Dr. Kenneth Kirk. Your dentist will give you the treatments you need to fully restore your oral health.
Once you’ve received treatment, it’s best to continue eliminating your gum disease at home. You can do so by doing the following things:
Step No. 1: Floss your teeth at least once a day. Many people find it easier to floss with waxed dental floss, but you can use whichever product you prefer. As you floss, make sure you clean in and around the gumline. This helps remove the plaque and bacteria that irritate and infect your gums.
Step No. 2: Brush your teeth two or three times a day if possible. As you brush, use a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. However, some dentists recommend using a toothpaste that contains triclosan, which is an antibacterial ingredient that helps with the bacterial infection.
Step No. 3: If you have a water irrigator, like Water Pik or Hydro Floss, irrigate your gums twice per day. This task can massage your gums, eliminate plaque from your smile, and clean around dental work, like dental bridges, crowns, and implants.
Step No. 4: Rinse your mouth two to three times a day with antimicrobial mouthwash. This will help reduce the bacteria in your mouth and prevent further infection. If your dentist recommended using a prescription mouthwash, make sure to use that product instead. If not, an over-the-counter mouthwash will do the trick.
Step No. 5: If your dentist prescribed antibiotic gel for your gums, make sure to apply it twice a day after you brush, floss, and irrigate. This will help you kill bacteria and keep your periodontal infection under control.
Step No. 6: Take all of the oral antibiotics your dentist prescribed to you. This will help kill the infection and will also prevent the formation of new bacterial colonies, especially after a surgical treatment. Make sure to take the antibiotics as recommended.
If you have any questions about gum disease in Spring, Texas, or if you need help performing any of the mentioned tasks, please don’t hesitate to call our office at 281-826-0025. Our dental team is more than happy to help you, and we look forward to hearing from you!