In a recent blog, we talked about keeping your smile healthy. Among the many concerns that come with dental hygiene, gum health should be a top priority. Regular oral hygiene and dental visits can help fight cavities, bad breath, and gum disease. In today’s blog, your team at Dental Impressions in Ankeny, IA, is here to do a deep dive into caring for your gingival tissue.
Read more: The Importance Of Gum HealthDental Care Contributes To Your Health
Brushing and flossing twice a day allows you to keep your breath fresh and teeth clean. Doing this also decreases your risk for problems such as heart attack, disease, and stroke. This is because your gum health is linked to the rest of your body. If you skip flossing for a long time, leftover debris in your mouth can create a buildup of plaque and tartar. Over time, this allows bacteria to create cavities, bad breath, and gingivitis if left ignored. These bacteria can also move into other areas of your body through your bloodstream and cause inflammation, which can lead to cardiovascular problems. Periodontitis can increase your risk of heart disease drastically, so be sure to make flossing a top priority.
The Stages Of Periodontitis
Periodontal disease starts as a minor problem and gradually transforms into an untreatable issue. The first stage is gingivitis. This is characterized by swollen gums, bleeding during flossing, and bad breath that does not go away even after brushing teeth. This can be treated with deep cleanings if caught early enough.
Early to moderate gum disease involves receding gum lines, teeth becoming loose and potentially even falling out. At this point, this cannot be reversed but maintained with regular deep cleanings that involve root planing and scaling.
Late stages of periodontitis have all of the above characteristics in addition to being at higher risk for other infections and a weakened immune system. When you lose your teeth due to this infection, it can be difficult to replace them because the gums are not strong enough to hold a prosthetic or implant.
How Deep Cleanings Can Help
If gingivitis is caught before it has the opportunity to advance with professional deep cleanings. This is a different process than your typical visit. Scaling and root planing is a method that allows the dentist and staff to remove plaque and tartar from beneath the tissue. This helps the tissue reattach to the teeth and decreases the chances of bone loss. Understandably, you may hesitate to make an appointment for this service if you feel embarrassed or ashamed of your oral health, but doing this can save your smile.
Schedule Your Next Checkup
The best way to prevent gum disease is regular checkups and good oral care. If it has been a while since your last visit, or you have concerns that you may have periodontitis, see us. Schedule an appointment by calling Dental Impressions in Ankeny, IA today at (515) 965-0230. We also welcome patients who live in Alleman, Elkhart, Bondurant, and all surrounding areas.
