Suspect you might have gum disease? Your first step is to schedule an appointment with Dr. Marvin Taylor. Our Waterford dentist will then examine your gums to determine if you have gum disease. While you can treat gingivitis at home, only a dentist can treat periodontitis.
If you're diagnosed with gum disease, we'll help you develop a plan for restoring oral health.
Call our office if you're experiencing:
Gingivitis (gum inflammation) is the beginning stage of gum disease. If left untreated, gingivitis will develop into an irreversible condition called periodontitis. Periodontitis is a serious gum infection that can cause receding gums and tooth loss.
The good news is that gum disease is preventable with good oral hygiene. Adopting good oral hygiene habits will also protect your smile from other preventable conditions, like cavities.
Gingivitis is reversible when caught early. But you'll need to adopt an effective oral hygiene routine.
We always recommend patients brush their teeth twice a day for at least two minutes at a time. You should also be flossing your teeth once a day. For extra protection, try a fluoride mouth rinse to strengthen tooth enamel.
The goal is to remove plaque from your teeth and gums on a daily basis.
Plaque hardens into tartar over time, which can only be removed by a dental professional. We use special tools to gently scrape the plaque and tartar off your teeth.
You can't cure periodontitis, but you can prevent it from worsening. During your appointment with us, we may recommend scaling and root planing.
Scaling and root planing is a procedure that allows us to remove plaque and tartar above and below the gum line. It also helps smooth out any exposed tooth roots so receding gums have a better chance of attaching. Seeing us for gum disease treatments will help your prognosis in the long run.
Depending on your condition, you may need to see our dentist more than twice a year. This is so he can closely monitor your oral health, preventing any complications.
We'll also review your current oral hygiene routine during your appointment.
Please feel free to ask our dentist and his team any questions you might have about your oral health. Our team is skilled, knowledgeable, and compassionate. We would be more than happy to help you fully understand your next steps.
Taking care of your oral health is one of the best ways you can avoid gum disease.
We cannot overstate the importance of seeing a dentist at least twice a year for a dental cleaning and oral examination. During your semi-annual appointment, we'll be able to examine your teeth and gums. We also take X-rays and screen for conditions that can affect your oral health.
Dr. Taylor treats patients of all ages as a family dentist in Waterford, MI. To request an appointment, call Dr. Taylor's Family Dental Center at (248) 681-8100.
