Hello and welcome to another edition of the New Albany Implants blog!
Although we focus in replacing teeth that have been lost with the highest quality dental implants available, we would rather help you prevent the need for such a procedure in the first place.
As an adult you can lose a tooth quickly in an accident or slowly as the result of decay. But one of the most common ways that adult in the U.S. lose teeth is through gum disease that has gone unnoticed and/or untreated for far too long.
Keep Your Eyes Open
How does it happen? The blame can be placed on bacteria.
Even before we get our first baby teeth, our mouths are loaded with dangerous bacteria.
If this bacteria slips under your gumline it will cause inflammation.
This is where your gums get red and bleed easily. In the early stages this form of gum disease, known as gingivitis, can be easily contained and reversed.
The problem is that most non-professionals don’t know what is unfolding. Especially when their visits to the dentist are few and far between.
Know The Risks
There are risk factors that make gum disease more of a threat, but the good news is that many of them are within your power to change.
Smoking tobacco products makes it much more likely that gum disease will take hold in your mouth. That is just one of many reasons to steer clear of cigarettes.
Family history is, obviously, a factor. This doesn’t mean it is a done deal, however. You just have to be more diligent about your home hygiene habits.
Speaking of oral hygiene, when it comes to preventing gum disease, you can make a difference.
Brushing well and flossing nightly, are among of the most viable ways of thwarting gum disease.
Keep Us In The Loop
As we alluded to earlier, keeping up with your six month dental cleanings and checkups is even more important for keeping disease and decay at bay. We’ll be able to help keep you on the good road and get you back on-track fast if anything ever goes awry.
Often we can treat gum disease simply by helping you to better care for your teeth in between visits. But for more severe cases we may need to perform a deep cleaning, which involves going below the gumline to remove all that bacteria.
Commonly referred to as scaling and root planing, this restorative treatment cleans out the pockets between your teeth and gums, allowing them to get rid of the bacteria and start healing.
Take Your Health Back!
We hope that you have been inspired by today’s post. Your gums are so important when it comes to stabilizing and supporting your teeth. Without healthy gums your teeth won’t have anything to hold them in place, so don’t take them for granted.
We can help you optimize your oral health at your next appointment. Contact us online or call New Albany Implants today at (812) 945-7645!