Gum Disease Treatment for Kids San Luis Obispo
Rescuing Growing Smiles from Inflammation and Infection
In adults, gum disease is one of the most common conditions worldwide. In fact, about 50 percent of American adults over the age of 30 have it, and it is the leading cause of tooth loss. But did you know that kids and teens can get it too? This damaging infection can have lasting effects on your child’s smile for the rest of their life, so if you think they may have gum disease, reach out to our San Luis Obispo team for an appointment so that we can resolve it as soon as possible.
What is Gum Disease?
At first glance, an inflammatory condition in the gums may not seem serious, but it can quickly become devastating. Although this bacterial infection initially impacts the gum tissue, it can spread to and weaken the jawbone as well as other parts of the body. In fact, studies have found that the same inflammatory bacteria that cause gum disease increase the risk of heart disease, Alzheimer’s, certain kinds of cancer, kidney disease, and other potentially life-threatening ailments.
Symptoms of Gum Disease
Unfortunately, despite its serious consequences, gum disease can be easy to overlook if you aren’t paying much attention to your child’s smile. It starts with red, puffy gums that can bleed easily when brushing or flossing. If allowed to progress, the infection causes gums to then pull back from the teeth, creating deep pockets of trapped plaque and bacteria. Symptoms such as consistent stinky breath or bad taste in the mouth could also indicate more advanced gum disease.
How Do We Treat Gum Disease?
Early on, the effects of gum disease may be reversed and prevented through better brushing and flossing every day as well as a good professional cleaning with our team. More advanced cases, however, will require additional procedures to eliminate the bacteria responsible for the infection.
Scaling & Root Planing
When plaque and bacteria have attached themselves to your child’s teeth to the point where it causes an infection, removing them takes more than just a routine cleaning. Scaling is a deeper treatment that goes below the gumline and scrapes away plaque from the root surfaces. Then, we can perform root planing, which makes the rough root surfaces smoother and makes it harder for plaque to stick to them again in the future. Depending on the severity of the infection, treatment may need to be repeated three to four months later.
Antibiotic Treatment
Being microscopic, bacteria can be difficult to get rid of. That’s why we may take advantage of antibiotic treatment in addition to scaling and root planing. This oral medication can help your child’s body and mouth fight these harmful organisms and get the microbiome of their mouth back under control. These temporarily prescribed pills can help get your child back on track, but the best way to protect your child’s smile from contracting gum disease again is to help them keep up strong, healthy habits, namely brushing and flossing, visiting our office regularly, and limiting sugar intake.