Preventing Periodontal Disease With Ozone Therapy

Periodontal (gum) disease affects the majority of adults today — and its effects are startling. The condition causes heart trouble, respiratory issues, and has been linked to premature birth and low birthweight. Fortunately, gum disease is fairly easy to prevent through good dental hygiene. But for patients who develop the condition, Dr. Preetha Thomas recommends ozone therapy, a non-invasive, non-surgical (and highly effective) treatment for gum disease.

Warning Signs of Gum Disease

Many people don’t realize they are dealing with the effects of gum disease. Know what to look out for to catch the condition early for your oral and overall health.

The symptoms of gum disease include:

• Bleeding, tender, swollen gums
• Gum recession
• Red gums
• Persistent foul breath
• Bad taste in the mouth
• Sensitive teeth
• Loose or missing teeth (in later stages)

What Is Ozone Therapy?

Even if you have never heard about how it can help your gum health, you probably already know what ozone is — the atmospheric stuff (i.e. the ozone layer) that keeps harmful UV rays from reaching earth. In addition to keeping us from burning up here in our part of the universe, ozone’s negative charge means it is also extremely useful in killing bacteria, which is why it’s often used for medical sterilization as well as for the treatment of gum disease.

How Ozone Protects Your Gum Health

Let’s go back to seventh grade science class here for a second (bear with us, please). Remember that all atoms, the smallest units of matter, are either positively, negatively, or neutrally charged. When atoms combine, they change based on their charge. Ozone is comprised of three oxygen atoms and is negatively charged, but bacteria’s outer wall is positively charged. So what happens when ozone combines with bacteria? The ozone goes into attack mode and “poof,” the bacteria is gone.

But wait, isn’t there a difference between good bacteria and bad? Yes, and we don’t want to eliminate all the bacteria from your mouth. The good news for your oral health is that the “good” bacteria contain antioxidants that repel the ozone. That keeps the bacteria you want in your mouth there, while magically eliminating the agents that cause gum disease. It’s the perfect remedy for infected gums!

Benefits of Ozone Therapy

• Nonsurgical treatment
• Anti-inflammatory
• Improves circulation
• Stimulates regenerative processes
• Painless procedure
• Disinfects as it treats

Schedule an Appointment Today!

Are you one of the millions of Americans dealing with gum disease? Don’t let the infection linger and worsen — unchecked periodontal infections wreak havoc on your overall health. Dr. Thomas treats gum disease non-surgically with ozone therapy. Contact us to schedule an appointment with your Southlake dentist today.