Preventing Periodontal Disease in Macomb, Michigan
As an adult people’s teeth and gums have been through a lot. If the gums remain healthy, they will fit nicely around the teeth, but unfortunately, a great number of dental patients will experience some kind of gum disease, which is known as periodontal disease.
Some studies show that periodontal disease could be connected to other health issues like stroke or pneumonia. Nevertheless more studies are required to check if gum disease is directly connected.
What Promotes Gum Disease
Plaque, a bacteria that grows on the teeth is the often the cause of gum disease. If people don’t brush their teeth and floss on a regular basis, the gums will most likely end up infected. The infected gums will move out from the teeth creating pockets. Bacteria then moves in these pockets, where they continue to cause infection. If this goes untreated, the disease can get worse even causing damage to the bone. The beginning stage of periodontal disease is named gingivitis. Symptoms of gingivitis are red and inflamed gums and gums that may perhaps bleed right after brushing. Gingivitis can be treated and normally the damage can be reversed. Normally, all it takes are additional cleanings from the dentist and better care from the patient at home.
Preventing Periodontal Disease
What could you do to prevent gum disease? Number one, standard checkups at your dentist are crucial for preventing gum disease. During an office visit, HPS Advanced Dental care will look at the color and firmness of patient’s gums. We use a little instrument called a periodontal probe that allows us to look for periodontal pockets by measuring the space in between the teeth and gums.
Healthy choices such as avoiding cigarette smoking, eating a balanced diet, and taking vitamins can help avoid gum disease. Also observe that certain medications reduce the flow of saliva. Without sufficient saliva, the mouth becomes significantly more prone to infections. Additionally, several medications can cause abnormal growth of the gum tissue making it challenging to clean them correctly.
Most of the time, you can help stop periodontal disease by brushing your teeth two times a day and flossing your teeth at least once a day. Be sure to only buy products that display the ADA Seal of Acceptance.
Keep in mind that brushing and flossing regularly may not get rid of all the plaque from your teeth, specifically around the gum line. Plaque may harden into a calculus or tartar. After this bacteria hardens you can have it removed while at your regular cleaning. This is why it is critical to come in for a professional cleaning.
What Are the Periodontal Disease Warning Signs
You may not know that you have periodontal disease because most of the time there is no pain. There are still warning signs to look out for. Call HPS Advanced Dental dentist if you experience any of the symptoms listed below:
- red and swollen gums
- bleeding gums
- gums that are separated from the teeth
- constant bad breath
- pus in between the teeth and gums
- your partial denture starts fitting differently
- teeth that are coming loose or separating
Preventing Periodontal Disease in Macomb, Michigan
For more information on periodontal disease and prevention for patients in Macomb, MI, visit our website, hpsdental.com, or call (248) 652 – 0024.
