Dr. Christopher Pescatore
Restorative & Cosmetic Dentistry
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Caring for Your Gums After Scaling and Root Planing

In Periodontics March 27, 2024

Scaling and root planing is a common dental procedure used to treat periodontal disease and restore gum health. If you’ve recently undergone this treatment, it’s essential to take proper care of your gums to promote healing and prevent further complications. Here are some helpful tips for caring for your gums post-treatment.

Understanding Scaling and Root Planing

Scaling and root planing is a non-surgical procedure performed by a dental hygienist or dentist to remove plaque, tartar, and bacteria from below the gumline and smooth the surfaces of your tooth roots. This helps eliminate the source of infection and inflammation in the gums and promotes the healing of gum tissue.

Caring for Your Gums After the Procedure

After scaling and root planing, your gums may feel sensitive and prone to bleeding or discomfort. Here are some essential tips for caring for your gums to ensure optimal healing and oral health.

  1. Follow Proper Oral Hygiene Practices: Continue to brush your teeth twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush and an approved toothpaste. Be gentle around the treated areas to avoid causing further irritation or damage to the gums. Floss daily to remove plaque and food particles from between your teeth and along the gumline.
  2. Use a Gentle Mouthwash: Rinse your mouth with a mild, alcohol-free mouthwash recommended by your dentist. Avoid mouthwashes that contain alcohol, as they can cause dryness and irritation to sensitive gum tissue. A gentle, antimicrobial mouthwash can help reduce bacteria and promote healing.
  3. Avoid Smoking: Smoking can delay healing and increase the risk of complications after scaling and root planing. If you smoke, consider quitting or reducing your tobacco use to improve gum health and overall oral health.
  4. Eat Soft Foods: Select soft foods for the first few days following scaling and root planing to avoid putting undue pressure on your gums. Choose foods that are easy to chew and won’t irritate sensitive gum tissue, such as yogurt, mashed potatoes, soups, and smoothies.
  5. Attend Follow-Up Appointments: Follow our dentist’s recommendations for follow-up appointments to monitor your healing progress and ensure that any remaining pockets of infection are addressed. Our dentist may recommend additional treatments or adjustments to your oral hygiene routine based on your individual needs.
  6. Manage Discomfort with Over-the-Counter Pain Relievers: If you experience any discomfort or swelling after scaling and root planing, you can take over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen as directed by our dentist. Avoid aspirin, as it can increase the risk of bleeding.
  7. Practice Good Overall Health Habits: Maintaining good overall health habits can support gum healing and reduce the risk of gum disease recurrence. Get plenty of rest, stay hydrated, eat a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables, and manage stress levels to support your body’s natural healing processes.
  8. Communicate with Your Dentist: If you have any concerns or questions about caring for your gums after scaling and root planing, don’t hesitate to reach out to our dentist. Our dentist can provide personalized guidance and recommendations to ensure your gums heal properly and you maintain optimal oral health.

Promoting Overall Oral Health

Caring for your gums after scaling and root planing is essential for promoting healing and preventing complications. By following proper oral hygiene practices, using gentle mouthwash, avoiding smoking, sticking to soft foods, attending follow-up appointments, managing discomfort with pain relievers, practicing good overall health habits, and communicating with our dentist, you can support gum healing and maintain a healthy smile for years to come.

The post Caring for Your Gums After Scaling and Root Planing first appeared on Dental Signal.
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Dr. Pescastore,

I just had to take a minute to let you know how much me and my family appreciate everything you have done for us. When we met in 2001 I was honestly anxious about the work I needed to have done. I was nervous about the results and also about the potential pain it might take to achieve the smile I wanted. You were so thorough in your evaluation of my extensive dental history and so clear in your explanation of the procedures required that I felt confident to take your recommendations and trust my smile to you. I have never regretted that decision. I am so grateful for the way you and your wonderful staff made every appointment as easy and comfortable as it could possibly have been. I was always happy to be going there knowing I would be treated so well and love the results. I still feel the same way, and look forward to my appointments with you and your caring staff. I really enjoy the spa like feeling and always leave there more relaxed than when I arrived. My friends are always surprised to learn that I look forward to my dentist appointments as they are lamenting about theirs.

I am especially grateful for the way you have treated my daughters. They too had many dentists before you and were nervous about going to the dentist. Thanks to you and Stacey and the rest of your wonderful staff they now share my feeling about going to the dentist and are happy to be there. Brooke is so afraid of needles that even at seventeen years old she still cries if she thinks she might get a shot at the doctors office. She was very nervous before her first appointment with you, in spite of mine and her sisters assurance that it really wouldn't hurt. Thank you for proving us right. Now even Brooke is not afraid to go to the dentist. I also want you to know how grateful I am for the emergency care you gave Sadie when she chipped her front tooth. I really appreciate you changing your own plans for the day to help her. She was so upset about the way her tooth looked that she cried all the way to your office. She, like me, left your office that day feeling great about herself and her smile. You have really made a positive difference in our lives and we are all so grateful to you for it. We all look forward to seeing you and your great team for our future dental needs.

With Great Respect and Many Thanks,

Pennie Gaddis

I look back at old photographs and realize I spent years hiding teeth. I had braces in my 30s and made the mistake of having my orthodontist apply veneers to my discolored, misshapen teeth. I was his first veneers patient, and I learned that when you're having cosmetic dentistry done, you should have a cosmetic dentist do it. When I decided to have those veneers replaced, I found an expert Dr. Pescatore. In fact, it was just a few weeks before my wedding that I asked Dr. Pescatore to do my smile makeover. I trusted him completely and knew from my first appointment that I was in good hands. He impressed me with his concern that my veneers look natural, and they do. My smile is huge in my wedding pictures, not only because I had a new husband but also because I had fabulous new teeth! I'm grateful to Dr. Pescatore and his caring, attentive staff for what they did for me. I finally have the smile I'd always wanted.

Evelyn Dalton

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