After you’ve brushed and flossed your teeth every day for so long, it’s natural to grow a little less diligent about doing so correctly. You may rush it some mornings or not fully pay attention on others, making it more likely that you’ll miss spots of plaque. When you do, those spots calcify, turning into tartar and becoming impervious to your toothpaste and water. The formation of tartar is the reason why chronic issues like periodontal disease form – the bacteria within the biofilm have ample time to attack your teeth and periodontal tissues. Today, we offer a brief refresher on good hygiene so you’ll be less likely to let such risks slip by as you clean your teeth every day. (more…)
How Dental Implants Reduce Your Risks of Future Tooth Loss
Not everyone realizes that after losing one or more teeth, their risks of losing more increases significantly. This is due to many different factors; for instance, the empty space in your smile can cause other to shift, which can loosen your jawbone’s grip on their roots. Even if you fill that space, the loss of the roots within your jawbone can cause the bone structure to slowly erode, losing density due to the reduced stimulation every time you bite and chew. Fortunately, dental implants can help stop this erosion and prevent your jawbone from growing weaker by reestablishing that stimulation and offering more lifelike support for your dental prosthesis. (more…)
Does Smoking Really Cause Gum Disease?
There are many factors that can increase your risks of gum disease, but if you smoke or chew tobacco, then that may be one of the most significant ones. It’s no myth that smoking can cause gum disease: according to numerous studies, people who use tobacco are often several times more likely to develop than disease than those who don’t. Today, we examine exactly what gum disease is, and why habits like tobacco use are such a substantial reason why it’s still one of the most prevalent chronic dental conditions. (more…)
Are You Flossing Your Teeth Right?
The point of sticking to a good hygiene routine is to control the harmful plaque (a biofilm of oral bacteria) and food particles that collect on your teeth every day. Keeping them under control helps you prevent the issues that they can cause, such as gingivitis (the first stage of destructive periodontal disease). In addition to brushing your teeth at least twice a day, that also requires flossing every day to remove these substances from between your teeth. Today, we examine a few ways in which you can make sure you’re flossing well enough to consistently protect your smile from dental health trouble. (more…)
What Happens When Gingivitis Gets Worse?
Gingivitis is common, and while it can easily be prevented or controlled, it still becomes a serious threat to many patients’ oral and overall health. When left unchecked, it can quickly progress into more serious forms of gum disease, such as periodontitis – the leading cause of adult tooth loss. Because the signs of gingivitis can often go unnoticed at first, the condition and the damage it causes often grow more prominent by the time patients seek treatment. Today, we examine how this happens, and what steps you can take if you notice that your periodontal health is worsening. (more…)
How Do You Know if Gingivitis Forms?
Most common dental issues, including gingivitis, exhibit warning signs in their earliest stages. However, these signs aren’t always obvious, and many patients miss them altogether until they become more severe. For instance, when gingivitis first develops, the bacteria-caused infection can cause your gums to become red and inflamed. However, they may not ache or become sensitive, which can make it even easier to overlook these symptoms and give the condition the chance to grow worse. Today, we take a look at how you can tell if gingivitis forms and what you should do if you notice that it has. (more…)
Things that Increase Your Risks of Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease has a definite cause – harmful oral bacteria – but everyone’s risks for developing the disease differs. For instance, if you take excellent care of your teeth and gums by brushing them twice a day, flossing at least once, and visiting your dentist regularly, then you’re less likely to develop gum disease. Likewise, if you skip your hygiene routine, avoid visiting your dentist, or experience any of the following, then you may be more likely to have to deal with periodontal disease in the near future. (more…)
Two Ways Gum Disease Affects Your Life
Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, is one of the most common chronic dental conditions. Yet, even patients who suffer from it don’t always realize the impact it can have on their lives. For instance, when it’s allowed to become severe, periodontal disease becomes a leading cause of tooth loss. The longer it’s left untreated, the more teeth you may lose by the time you do seek help. However, tooth loss is only of many different ways in which periodontal disease can affect your life. Today, we take a look at two more ways, including how the disease affects the rest of your oral health and how it can influence your risks for other chronic illnesses. (more…)
A Few Things that Improve with Dental Implants
Like most aspects of your dental health, there are several things connected to tooth loss that aren’t immediately obvious. As a result, there is much more to consider when replacing your lost teeth than just what you can see. That’s what makes dental implants the preferable option in most cases – they’re the only way to address all of those considerations while rebuilding your smile with highly lifelike results. Today, we examine a few of the things dental implants improve that other prostheses can’t, and why you should consider making them your first choice if you need to replace one or more teeth. (more…)
The Advantages of Perio Protect
While periodontal disease (aka, gum disease) is highly preventable, it remains one of the more common chronic dental health issues among adults in the U.S. For patients who experience forms of the disease, it’s also the leading cause of adult tooth loss and a significant factor in several other chronic inflammatory conditions. The good news is that periodontal disease is also highly treatable, and your periodontist offers a wide range of customized options for addressing it. Perio Protect is just one of those options, and today, we explore the advantages it can give you in your fight against one of the most destructive dental health issues you might face. (more…)