You may not think about it that often, but your mouth can be a quite vulnerable part of your body. Because you constantly expose it to outside elements whenever speaking, eating, or breathing, these activities can impact your oral health. When practicing behaviors to preserve your oral health, know that your gums provide critical support to the function and appearance of your smile. By focusing attention on your gums as well as your teeth, you can prevent or treat infections that lead to tooth loss and attack your jawbone.
Your Ankeny, IA dentist can help you preserve the health of your gingival tissues when you attend periodic cleanings and examinations. We can provide guidance to assist the efforts of your daily brushing and flossing habits. In the event of infection, we can help you maintain your oral health with specialized cleaning services. While advanced infection is not reversible, rigorous periodontal care can help prevent further damage from disease.
Routine Cleanings For Healthy Gums
When you attend your regular checkups and cleanings, your dentist focuses on the entire health of your mouth. Cleaning provides the removal of plaque and tartar deposits that can potentially infect your connective tissues. To detect the current presence of gum disease, we check for common symptoms such as bleeding, recession, and swelling. When disease is present, we can place you on a more involved treatment schedule that prioritizes removing bacterial deposits in pockets between your gums and teeth.
Periodontal Deep Cleanings
In comparison to a standard dental cleaning, a deep cleaning allows your dentist to go beneath your gumline to access deposits that cause infection. When not treated, these deep infections risk destroying the tissues of your gums and jawbone as well. The deterioration of your jaw threatens the stability of your teeth as they lose the bone that holds them in place. This is why untreated gum disease leads to tooth loss. For this reason, seek deep cleaning whenever your dentist informs you of the presence of gum disease.
Maintaining Healthy Gums At Home
To prevent the buildup of bacteria that threaten the health of your gums, practice the same habits that prevent tooth decay. Daily brushing and flossing should include reaching the spaces where your gums meet your teeth. Concentrating on these areas will help protect your periodontal tissues from possible infection.
Speak With Your Ankeny, IA Dental Team About Caring For Your Gums!
When bacteria infect your gums, you risk tissue recession and deterioration of your jaw. This can eventually lead to losing teeth when not treated, but regular visitation allows us to detect and treat infection. To schedule a visit, call our Ankeny, IA dentist’s office at 515-207-6182. Additionally, we serve patients who live in Alleman, Elkhart, Bondurant, and all surrounding communities as well.
