You may have heard about periodontal diseases, also known as "periodontitis" or "gum diseases."
But do you really know the difference between periodontal disease and other types of complications that can affect your mouth, such as gingivitis? Do you know why it's so important to treat periodontal disease—and why brushing and flossing alone won't do the trick? Most importantly, did you know that periodontal disease is today's #1 cause of tooth loss among American adults?
There are billions of bacteria in our mouths. Bacteria can build up on the teeth and create plaque, a soft, sticky substance that coats the teeth.
When plaque mixes with the saliva in the mouth, minerals contained within the saliva cause the plaque to harden. This somewhat harder substance is known as calculus or "tartar."
Excessive buildup of plaque and tartar on and around the teeth can cause the gums to become red and swollen. This inflammation is known as gingivitis. Gingivitis often causes the gums to bleed. We practice good oral hygiene—like brushing, flossing, and rinsing—to remove bacteria from the mouth and prevent gingivitis from further irritating the gums. Bad habits like smoking and chewing tobacco increase the risk of gum disease.
When gingivitis goes untreated and oral health isn't properly managed, bacteria continue to grow and spread throughout the mouth. The toxins produced by the bacteria in plaque irritate the gums and stimulate a chronic inflammatory response, and eventually migrate beneath the gums and teeth, down to the bone that holds teeth in place. This is when periodontal diseases begin.You can help prevent bacteria from taking over your mouth with a few simple oral hygiene measures:
ARESTIN® is an effective antibiotic treatment that comes in powder form. This powder is placed inside infected periodontal pockets just after the dental professional finishes the scaling and root planing (SRP) procedure.
ARESTIN® powder contains "Microspheres," which are tiny, bead-like particles that are smaller than grains of sand and are not visible to the eye. The Microspheres are filled with the antibiotic minocycline, and they release the drug over time into the infected periodontal pocket, killing bacteria that live there.
ARESTIN® is proven in clinical studies
ARESTIN® Microspheres continue to fight the infection for up to 21 days after SRP. In clinical studies, ARESTIN® has been proven to be more effective than using SRP alone. ARESTIN® also significantly reduced the size of periodontal pockets compared to SRP alone.
Periodontal Disease and ARESTIN®: Frequently Asked Questions
Contact Advanced Dental by phone at (860) 828-3933 or via email at: contact@AdvancedDental.com
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