Healthy gums protect your teeth from harmful bacteria and keep your smile looking its best. Unfortunately, when you have gum disease, your gingival tissues may start pulling away (receding), compromising your smile’s integrity. 

Clint Bruyere, DDS in Longview, Texas, understands the importance of healthy gums. We educate our patients on periodontal care to keep their gums in great shape. However, when gum disease sneaks into your smile, Dr. Clint Bruyere and the team have numerous treatments to stop gum infection in its tracks. 

How periodontal pockets form

Gum disease occurs when food, saliva, and harmful bacteria mix to form dental plaque — a colorless, sticky film that forms on your teeth. When plaque isn’t removed, it calcifies into tartar, which creates a perfect setting for bacteria to cling to, triggering gum inflammation and swelling. 

The early symptoms of gum disease include bleeding and tender gums. However, when you don’t treat gum disease at this stage, the gums pull away, creating a pocket space. This pocket, also known as a gingival or periodontal pocket, becomes a breeding ground for more bacteria that may compromise your teeth-supporting structures if not treated.

How periodontal pockets are treated

Your gums and teeth seem to have a direct attachment, but there is a tiny space between the tooth and gums called the sulcus. In healthy teeth, the depth of a sulcus is 1-3 mm — a distance that can be accessed by your toothbrush or dental floss.  

However, if we find this depth is more than 3 mm, this indicates the presence of gum disease, and the higher the readings, the more advanced your gum infection. When gums recede, your at-home dental care can’t remove bad bacteria from the deep pockets. 

These are the treatments you may need to restore your gum health.

• Deep dental cleaning: This treatment is similar to standard teeth cleaning but more extensive. Your dentist removes dental calculus on your teeth’ surface and extends it all the way to the roots. After a thorough cleaning, we smooth out your tooth roots to discourage further bacterial growth. Periodontal cleaning requires at least two dental visits and uses anesthesia to minimize discomfort.
• Antibiotic therapy: We can place antibacterial gel in your periodontal pockets to eliminate harmful bacteria after a periodontal cleaning.
• Surgical treatments: Severe cases of periodontal disease may require surgical intervention, including flap surgery to close up the pockets.

Eliminating gum disease is a team effort. While we can treat it at our office, you must be vigilant with your daily oral hygiene. Brush twice daily, floss at least once every day, and use an antibacterial mouthwash to fight off disease-causing bacteria.

Gum disease treatment near me

The team at Clint Bruyere, DDS, is passionate about healthy smiles. If you suspect signs of gum disease in Longview, TX, don’t hesitate to call (903) 708-6116 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Clint Bruyere for effective periodontal treatment.

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