In honor of February\u2019s Gum Disease Awareness Month \u2013 a global public awareness campaign for preventing gum disease \u2013 our practice wants to help spread the word about this insidious disease. That\u2019s because it can destroy your smile if it is left untreated. Fortunately, you can take action to help prevent this from happening!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Gum disease is caused by the ongoing attacks of the bacteria that live in dental plaque. Plaque is that sticky, colorless coating you can feel on your teeth before you brush them. The reason you need to brush and floss every day is to remove this bacterial film, which otherwise attacks tooth enamel and gum tissue to break them down. Plaque that isn\u2019t removed daily quickly hardens into tartar, which then needs to be removed at your six-month dental checkup using special tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Factors Leading to Gum Disease<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n As you may have guessed by now, the leading cause of gum disease is poor oral hygiene. However, additional factors can speed up the development of this disease, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2013 Stress Symptoms of Gum Disease<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n How do you know if you have gum disease, especially since it\u2019s often painless in the early stage? Watch out for these symptoms:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2013 Bleeding gums when you brush and floss All of these are signs that you are dealing with some form of gum disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3 Stages of Gum Disease<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. Gingivitis<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This beginning stage is when you might start noticing gum inflammation, swelling, redness, and bleeding, especially when you go to brush and floss. The good news is that this stage of gum disease can be reversed since it hasn\u2019t yet reached the supportive bone and connective tissue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. Periodontitis<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This intermediate stage irreversibly destroys supportive bone and connective tissue. You may feel pockets forming below the gum line. Gum pockets allow the formation of plaque buildup under the gum line, which often requires interventive periodontal treatment, like scaling and root planing coupled with a stepped-up daily oral hygiene routine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. Advanced Periodontitis<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Should there be no periodontal intervention at stage two, you will likely find yourself in this final stage of the disease. Now the connective tissue and bone material will have been destroyed. It causes your teeth to loosen and shift out of position, altering your bite, speech, and ability to chew properly. Without periodontal treatment, the teeth will likely require extraction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gum Disease Prevention: Be Proactive!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Thankfully, there\u2019s a lot you can do to prevent gum disease from attacking your smile!<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2013 Stick to a diligent daily oral hygiene routine, including brushing and flossing at least twice a day. We hope spreading information about this disease in support of Gum Disease Awareness Month inspires you to be more proactive when it comes to protecting your oral health. After all, healthy teeth and gums are essential for a vibrant, beautiful smile!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In honor of February\u2019s Gum Disease Awareness Month \u2013 a global public awareness campaign for preventing gum disease \u2013 our practice wants to help spread the word about this insidious disease. That\u2019s because it can destroy your smile if it is left untreated. Fortunately, you can take action to help prevent this from happening!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-293","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n
\u2013 A high sugar diet
\u2013 Chronic tobacco use
\u2013 Regular alcohol consumption
\u2013 Misaligned teeth (prevents you from cleaning your teeth effectively)
\u2013 Fluctuating hormone levels
\u2013 Cancer & diabetes mellitus
\u2013 Breathing through the mouth which dries out oral tissues<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2013 Red, tender or swollen gums
\u2013 Chronic bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth
\u2013 Tooth sensitivity to hot\/cold temperatures
\u2013 Gum tissue pulling away from the teeth
\u2013 Loose-feeling teeth
\u2013 Altered bite pattern
\u2013 Loose-fitting partial dentures
\u2013 Pus around teeth and gums
\u2013 Pain when chewing<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2013 Keep all scheduled biannual dental checkups and cleanings.
\u2013 After eating (especially snacks), drink water to rinse away food particles and oral debris.
\u2013 Limit bacteria-feeding sugars in your diet, and when you do indulge, chew sugarless gum to increase saliva flow that helps rinse away bacteria.
\u2013 If you still use tobacco, there\u2019s no better time than now to give it up. Your gums will thank you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n