Gum disease is one of the most serious threats to your oral health. In fact, gum disease is a chronic infection that can damage the entire body, contributing to health conditions like diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and cancer. Traditional methods for treating gum disease are often inadequate to stopping the condition, which is why we offer Perio Protect, a supplement to traditional care that can help you control your gum disease.

If your current approach to controlling gum disease isn’t working, maybe it’s time to try Perio Protect. To learn more about Perio Protect in Burke, VA, please call 703-323-8200 today for an appointment with preventive dentist Dr. Pamela Marzban.

The Damaging Effects of Periodontal Pockets

Periodontal pockets are a symptoms of gum disease. When oral bacteria collect around your teeth, they release acids that can cause cavities, but can also damage your gums, causing them to pull away from your teeth. This creates gaps between your teeth and gums, also known as periodontal pockets.

These periodontal pockets–and the hardened plaque deposits known as tartar that can accumulate nearby–isolate bacteria from saliva, tooth brushing, and flossing. This allows bacteria to thrive in even greater numbers. And because these pockets keep bacteria away from the air, anaerobic bacteria can flourish there. Anaerobic bacteria find oxygen toxic. Instead, they usually “breathe” sulfur. It is these bacteria that are responsible for chronic bad breath. Many of these bacteria are particularly aggressive, too. They can damage your gums and teeth, but they can also corrupt your body’s immune system. This accelerates damage to the bone–leading to tooth loss–but it can also contribute to your risk of cancer and autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis.

Limitations of Traditional Care

Although traditional approaches to treating gum disease can work for many people, they don’t work for everyone.

Brushing only cleans part of the teeth. It doesn’t clean the areas in between teeth. Bacteria left where the toothbrush can’t reach will contribute to tooth decay and the creation of periodontal pockets.

Flossing can get between teeth and it can even clean some of the bacteria from at or below the gum line. But flossing properly is difficult, and if you don’t floss correctly, you may leave bacteria behind and you could even force bacteria below the gum line, contributing to periodontal pockets.

Mouthwash can get bacteria anywhere in your mouth, even in periodontal pockets, but the deeper a pocket is, the less likely it’s going to penetrate. And the alcohol in many mouthwashes can dry the mouth out, worsening gum disease in the long run.

And if you want to remove tartar from your teeth, the only way is with a professional dental visit. These cleanings can be very effective, but some people need more support for oral health between dental visits.

Even more aggressive gum surgery is used when gum disease becomes serious. But at this point, it’s too late. We need something to help stop gum disease before it gets to this point.

Perio Protect: Support for At-Home Gum Care

Perio Protect is a new treatment to help you avoid the effects of gum disease. In basic principle, it is similar to at-home teeth whitening trays. Instead of whitening compound, you put antibacterial cream in the trays. The trays fit snugly over your teeth to hold the medication on your gums for an extended period of time.

With Perio Protect trays, the medication doesn’t get washed away by your saliva. Instead, the medication can penetrate deep into the periodontal pockets, killing bacteria and giving your gums a chance to heal. Perio Protect allows you to stop and even reverse the trend of gum disease, which can save not only your teeth, but your life.

To learn more about the benefits of gum disease treatment with Perio Protect in Burke, VA, please call 703-323-8200 today for an appointment with Dr. Pamela Marzban.