When it comes to oral care, most people don’t think much about their gums. But gums are actually a much better indicator of overall oral health than teeth. Keep an eye on them – they’ll often reveal whether or not you need gum therapy.

Gum therapy is a process dentists use to treat periodontal disease, which can cause bleeding gums and bad breath. And if that doesn’t sound so bad, think of this: If left untreated, periodontal disease can also cause significant loss of the spongy bone that holds your teeth in place, ultimately leading to lost teeth. In fact, periodontal disease unchecked by gum therapy is the leading cause of tooth loss.

Comprehensive Family Dentistry – serving Langhorne, Newtown, Philadelphia and much of Bucks County – is in the business of providing the best gum therapy to patients who need it. And don’t be scared – gum therapy is simple and relatively painless.

Gum therapy is needed when the gums are damaged to a point that prevents the patient from being able to address it himself. Gingivitis – the earliest stage of periodontal disease – can be cured with relative ease with non-surgical treatments and a more diligent course of home oral care. But more advanced cases of periodontal disease require more intensive courses of gum therapy.

To measure the health of your gums, dentists gently slide a device called a periodontal probe between each tooth and its corresponding gumline. If the probe can reach more than three millimeters into the gum pocket, deep cleaning is needed.

This advanced gum therapy involves a process called scaling and root planing, which removes plaque  from between the teeth and the gum pockets. As dental procedures go, it’s relatively painless, but some patients prefer to receive local anesthesia before the process begins. After this type of gum therapy, many patients find that pursuing a more diligent course of home oral care keeps their gums in good health.

During a course of gum therapy, many dentists will also prescribe antibiotics to kill the bacteria associated with gum disease, and to promote healing of gums.