Ask a dentist about the number one most frustrating thing they treat and they will all give you the same answer. And if you’re a dentist yourself, you’ll already know exactly what we’re talking about. Gum disease is one of those annoying, frustrating, and potentially lifelong conditions that never seems to go away, and yet the treatments are very simple. 

To help patients and dental professionals make progress, we’re going to take a closer look at what causes it and how to treat it. Our goal is to unite both sides so that everyone benefits. 

What causes periodontal disease?

Poor oral hygiene due to ineffective brushing and then failing to finish off with an antibacterial mouthwash is by far the most common cause. If you are reading this after a recent string of appointments in which you felt like your advice was being ignored, we have every sympathy with you. And if you are a patient with inflamed or bleeding gums, we completely understand that you may not want to hear that you’ve been brushing incorrectly all these years. Let’s try to clear this up. 

A dental practice with a model set of teeth and a demo brush will be able to show patients the right way to clean both teeth and gums. A visual demonstration sticks in the mind so much better than a few hurried words at the end of a stressful appointment. Educational exercises like this can help a practice run far more efficiently as it will allow dental experts to focus on more in-depth issues. Education and sharing knowledge is a big part of bridging the gap between patients and practitioners. 

Highlighting the signs of periodontal disease 

A practitioner who is patient enough to invest time in educating their patients will always save themselves much more time later on. Why? Because every patient will be able to spot the warning signs early and then take the correct course of action. The key to making this happen is a cordial environment in which simple questions never go unasked and the fundamentals are clearly communicated. Communication really is the key. 

Showing pictures of inflamed or bleeding gums will make patients understand precisely what they need to keep a look out for. The same is true of showing images of receding gums that may expose lower sections of the tooth. A visual demonstration with minimal dental jargon is always the most effective approach to take when conveying a new idea. As a result of these types of interactions, dental practices can run more efficiently and patients will be able to take better care of their teeth. There are, however, times when more in-depth treatments are needed. 

Dentist-approved periodontal disease treatments

Making sure that every patient understands the risks of inaction and poor oral hygiene is, of course, of paramount importance. As well as these types of educational conversations, practices need to have a plentiful supply of gel-based treatments that can be used when deeper pockets emerge. 

When the pocket depth reaches 5 mm or more, choosing to give Dentomycin to patients is always a smart approach to take. The gel will help cleanse, heal, and protect so that hard-to-reach pockets don’t cause further issues in the medium to long term. Patients should be directed about how to use the gel by their practitioner as part of their regular appointment. Doing so will ensure proper application and timing of the treatment at home with a view to the patient making a timely and full recovery. 

In other cases, practitioners may have to undertake scaling and root planning as an additional treatment. Dentists who explain how these procedures can work alongside Dentomycin will be able to achieve greater patient buy-in. This is particularly important for a chronic ailment such as periodontal disease because the patient needs to take action at home. 

Working together to beat chronic conditions 

The strange thing about gum disease is that many people think little or nothing about light bleeding after brushing their teeth. Few would accept the same type of reaction from any other part of the body, and yet the mouth — such a personal area — is often left untended. Key to changing all of this is a proactive culture of patient education. 

Dentists who take an active role in providing advice that goes beyond the scope of a regular check-up are more likely to be able to enhance their reputation. Referrals from across the local area and sales of aftercare and toothcare products all naturally follow suit from this point on. 

In short, if you are a patient, speak to your local dentist about tackling gum disease. If you are a dentist, having a reputable supplier of a gel-based treatment, such as the one mentioned above, will help you provide greater levels of patient care.