Keeping your teeth healthy and strong is an important part of maintaining a beautiful smile for life, but your teeth shouldn’t be your only concern when striving to practice good oral health habits. Your gums also need proper dental care. By brushing and flossing diligently on a daily basis, you can keep your gums in tip-top shape. Unfortunately, if you don’t, you could be at risk of developing an infection in the tissues that support your teeth. This is known as gum disease. Here’s what you should know about preventing gum disease before scheduling your next routine dental appointment with the friendly team at our Groveport, OH, dental office.
Gum disease most commonly occurs from poor oral hygiene habits. When the bacteria that naturally occurs in your mouth and particles from the food you consume aren’t removed with at-home brushing and flossing, a clear, sticky film called plaque can form over the surface of your teeth. If left untreated, this plaque can harden into tartar build-up. As a result, your gum tissue can become infected, resulting in other serious oral health complications, including tooth recession and even tooth loss.
There are a number of factors that leave you at a higher risk for of periodontitis, include:
The earliest stage of gum disease typically doesn’t exhibit any warning signs. This can make the condition particularly problematic. Because your teeth and gums look healthy to your naked eye, you may not realize that your oral health is at risk. As it progresses, however, periodontal disease could cause the following symptoms:
Gum disease will not go on its own and cannot be treated with normal at-home dental care. On the contrary, if left untreated indefinitely, gum disease will get worse and lead to more complicated oral health conditions. Because of this, it’s important to schedule an appointment with a dental professional t if you notice any abnormalities with your gum health.
Gum disease must be diagnosed by a dentist. If your dentist determines that you have gum disease, they will likely recommend that you undergo a deep dental cleaning to restore the health of your gums and protect the condition from progressing. This will require a dental hygienist to gently scrape the plaque and tartar from the surface of your teeth as well as from around and beneath your gum line. Until your gums are healthy once again, your dentist may require you to have more frequent professional cleanings.
The best way to prevent gum disease from developing is to practice good oral hygiene health habits on a regular basis. This includes:
Just because your teeth and gums look healthy doesn’t mean that they are. If it’s been longer than six months since you’ve had a dental check-up or professional dental cleaning, it’s time to make caring for your smile a priority once again. Regular dental exams and cleanings are a small step that can make a big difference in maintaining a healthy, beautiful smile for life, including preventing gum disease. The trusted team at Walnut Creek Dental in Groveport, OH, is ready to show you how convenient and comfortable caring for your teeth and gums can be. Contact us today to schedule your next appointment!
Call 614-864-2466 or request an appointment online to set up your first visit. We’ll be in touch soon.
