Prevention Is Key To Maintaining Excellent Gum Health – 14333th Edition
Most of the ads for toothpaste or tooth whiteners focus exclusively on how teeth look and how important your pearly whites are to maintaining that terrific smile. But many people underestimate the importance of maintaining excellent GUM health too. Here’s a primer on preventing gum disease.
Gum disease is also known by another name: periodontal disease. In simplest terms it is an infection of the tissues and bone that anchor your teeth. As your gums go, so do your teeth; therefore, the condition of the gums is just as (if not more) vitally important to good oral health than the condition of the teeth themselves.
Left unchecked, gum disease can lead to loosening teeth or even tooth loss. One of the common misconceptions about periodontal disease is that it is a condition which only affects the aged.
While it is true that living a long life exposes an older person to a great risk of tooth loss, gum disease is extremely common in the young. Indifferent brushing and flossing habits combined with infrequent visits to the dentist is a recipe for disaster in teenagers and young adults alike. Fact: young people will experience tooth loosening and loss due to gum disease just as older folks will.
Gum disease in the young is most often brought on by the early advent of tooth decay caused by the buildup of plaque.
It can also be exacerbated by smoking. Smoking is a leading cause of gum disease and should be strictly avoided. It promotes excessive buildup of plaque and tartar, the dastardly duo of periodontal disease. The hard tartar material destroys gum tissue and actually pulls it away from the teeth. Over time, bacteria get into the created spaces and destroy even more tissue. Eventually, the teeth don’t stand a chance of staying put.
Prevention is key to avoiding gum disease, of course. Brushing and flossing alone cannot possibly remove all of the buildup that accumulates on teeth, but it’s an excellent place to start nonetheless. Effective home care coupled with regular visits to the dentist should stave off periodontal problems. Should issues arise, specialists called periodontists can help. These professionals’ practices focus solely on gum health.
If you suffer from bleeding gums or loosening teeth, you may very well have some form of gum disease; so don’t wait till the condition worsens: visit a professional right away. Caught early, there are many steps which can be taken to restore gum health and save your teeth.
If you are a Beehive State resident seeking an experienced Utah Valley Periodontist, contact the professionals at the office of Rod Bridge, DDS (http://www.drrodbridge.com). Art Gib is a freelance writer.
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