Taking care of your smile is a lifelong process, and it goes without saying that it is better to start your preventive care much sooner rather than later. Indeed, your grin faces countless threats over the course of your life, and there are many more harmful things for your health than there are helpful aspects. Because of this, we encourage you to practice a well-rounded dental routine at home and attend routine checkups to help. In today’s blog, your Lake Orion, MI dentist discusses other concerns that impact your grin, including gum infection and disease.
Dangers of Gum Disease
When asked what the most common oral health concern is, most patients readily identify dental decay and its effects. While this answer is true, it is not the only one. In fact, gum disease is also extremely common and affects millions of people every year in some form or another.
When a person experiences gum infection, they may begin to notice a number of signs or symptoms. Some of these include swollen, bleeding, or inflamed gums, alarmingly loose teeth, separation of teeth from the tissues that protect them, and even structures falling out on their own.
One of the major problems that arise with gum disease, however, is that many people do not know they have it until it has progressed significantly. Indeed, this phenomenon consists of hyperactive oral bacteria that have made their way beneath the gum line and began to form plaque and tartar on the roots of your teeth. Without proper care, you could face the possibility of losing multiple, or even all structures. To learn more about this process, reach out to our team today.
Why Flossing Matters
Believe it or not, your biggest tool against gum disease involves flossing after every meal. The reason behind this is because food particles become lodged in-between structures all the time. Sometimes they are able to make their way out, but oftentimes they require a little help.
You see, oral bacteria feed off of these food particles, so when they get lodged between teeth, they attract bacteria to your gums, and the rest is history. Contact our office to learn more about this process today.
Benefits of Periodontal Cleanings
When preventive care falls short, our team is prepared with a backup in the form of periodontal cleanings. This process involves carefully cleaning beneath the gum line so as to remove deposits of plaque and tartar. Once this is complete, we will take care to plane or smooth the surfaces of your roots to make the future bacterial attachment more difficult.
Learn More Today
To learn more about this process or to schedule your next appointment with our team, contact Lake Orion Family Dentistry in Lake Orion, MI by calling 248-693-6213 today.