Periodontal Care
Seattle, WA
We can’t stress enough how important it is for you to take care of your whole mouth. You are fighting a very important battle - against bacteria. Bacteria are in your mouth all the time. There are millions and millions of bacteria in your mouth right now. Some of the bacteria in your mouth are harmless, but some of the bacteria in your mouth can cause trouble. This is especially true if you are not brushing and flossing correctly. If left untreated, the bacteria can cause tooth decay and gum disease. Gum disease can become so serious it might cause you to lose your teeth. If you aren’t sure about periodontal care, let Queen Anne Family Dental give you some important information.
Why Should I Worry About Gum Disease?
Gum disease is another way of saying your gums are infected. If you are brushing and flossing correctly, you are brushing away the film that appears on your teeth every day. If you don’t brush and floss, the film builds up on your teeth and hardens. When it hardens, you can’t brush it off. You have to have it scraped off. That hard bacteria will inflame your gums and make them sore. This is the first stage of gum disease.
We can treat the first stage of gum disease fairly easily. However, if the disease progresses, it will create pockets in between your teeth and gums. These spaces or pockets hide infection, as well as food particles. When this happens, you may lose your gum tissue and teeth, because there won’t be enough tissue to hold your teeth together.
Who Is Prone to Gum Disease?
Some people are more prone to gum disease than others. If you are a smoker, you need to know you are at a higher risk for gum disease. That’s because cigarette smoke makes it difficult for the disease to be treated. Research says smokers have more plaque in their mouths than non-smokers, which maybe because of the cigarette smoke itself. You are also at a greater risk for gum disease if you have diabetes. People with allergies or asthma take medications that make their mouths dry, which can create more plaque. However, you need to know that some people will get gum disease with no risk factors at all.
How to Take Care of Your Gums
If you want to make sure your gums stay healthy, there are several ways to do it. You need to be sure you are practicing daily brushing and flossing twice a day every day. That way, plaque doesn’t have a chance to settle on your gums or teeth. Also, be sure you are visiting us twice a year for periodontal maintenance. That way, we can take off plaque before it sticks and hardens to your gums and teeth. We might also be able to recommend ways you can improve your brushing and flossing. If we spot gum disease, we can help treat it before it becomes more serious.
If you are worried about gum disease, why not give Queen Anne Family Dental a call at (206) 424-4450.
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