How to Prevent Gum Disease
By Dr. Ronald K. Thompson | Published on June 30, 2011 | 0 Comments
When we are young it’s all about fighting cavities and hopefully not having to have too many fillings or sealants placed on our teeth. But as we start moving into adulthood, the main dental concern for so many of us is how to prevent gum disease from occurring. As bad teeth and gums (periodontal disease) can lead to heart disease, it’s quite important that we understand the steps we need to take in order to keep gum disease as far away from us as possible. Ronald Thompson from East Valley Dental Care is a Mesa, AZ dentist who is going to share his thoughts on what people need to do and know in order to keep their teeth and gums healthy.
What steps do we need to take?
- Flossing and brushing are critical pieces to preventing periodontal disease. At the same time, if you are flossing or brushing incorrectly, you still may find you are having some periodontal concerns.
- Thompson says you need routine maintenance on your teeth and gums (like a car with an oil change). This is one of the most important steps, and the one that is the easiest to remedy if you have not been seeing your Mesa, AZ dentist on a periodic basis.
- You should be seeing your dentist at least twice a year. If you have not seen your Mesa, AZ dentist in over a year, than most likely extensive cleaning is going to have to occur. Do the condition of a person’s teeth and gums, sometimes patients need to come to the dentist every 3 months, rather than the traditional 6-month visit.
- Contrary what many may believe, what you eat has nothing to do with gum disease. So you can eat as much sugary foods as you want in regard to your gum health. Sugary foods are what can cause cavities not periodontal disease.
What are the signs?
- Bleeding gums is the first sign of periodontal disease. The reason your gums bleed is because a bacterial infection has begun in your gums, so they become inflamed and bleed when brushing or flossing.
- A great amount of tartar builds up in your mouth.
- If the disease has progressed, you may find that your teeth are loose because damaged tissue, brought on by periodontal disease, does not attach as well to bone.
- When your dentist measure the pocket depth of your teeth, and is calling out numbers to his assistant, if you hear numbers higher than 3 there may be some early onset gum disease. If you hear him say numbers over 5 or 6, you definitely have some periodontal issues that need to be attended to immediately. What the numbers indicate is the amount of millimeters (mm) your gum pocket’s depth is.
Once gum disease begins, you have to make sure your dentist performs what is called a deep cleaning or scaling to your teeth. This is simply a more severe teeth cleaning where he takes special tools to get to where the bacterial growth is occurring below the gum line.
Although there are cosmetic dental options if you lose your teeth due to periodontal disease; don’t let it come to that. If you see these signs go to your dentist immediately and save your teeth and gums.
*Disclaimer: The information on this website is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.