The treating gingivitis starts with a professional dental cleaning and excellent oral hygiene at home. To prevent it from coming back, you have to become a brushing and flossing champion. Flossing can be done almost anywhere and anytime and is very effective at controlling this problem.

          Treating gingivitis often begins with scaling and root planing to remove all of the material trapped around the teeth. After this procedure, all that may be needed in the future is a regular cleaning. Unfortunately, most patients believe that they should only have one dental cleaning every six months, but this is not true. Many patients who have gum problems need more intensive care. If a patient has a tendency toward getting gum disease, even with good home care, having a cleaning every three or four months is a good idea.

          Periomed is a home fluoride that kills the bacteria that cause gingivitis. It's a great method of treating gingivitis at home. Our doctors suggest that patients not follow the instructions on the bottle but instead, place some Periomed on a dry tooth brush and brush the gel into the gums before going to bed. Mouth washes can help. In addition to commercial mouthwashes like Listerine or Scope, you can rinse with peroxide or salt water. It's not a bad idea to brush your tongue so that the bacteria that cause gum infections stop jumping from the tongue to the gums and back.

          The dentists of the Atlanta Dental Group PC are dedicated to their patients' good health and well being. We have been treating gingivitis for many years and you are welcome to join our family of patients. If you wish to visit with Dr. Padolsky, call 404-874-7428. It's your first step in insuring that you have a healthy, happy life free of dental infections.