Preventive Care for Periodontal Disease
New Bedford, Falmouth, & Hyannis, MA
Preventive Care for Periodontal Disease provided by Dr. Gus Dehni
and Dr. Chris Webb
in New Bedford, Falmouth, & Hyannis, MA at Center for Advanced Periodontics and Implant Dentistry
 You can prevent periodontal conditions by brushing, flossing, and visiting our dentist regularly. Periodontal diseases are infections that affect your gums. These infections are attributed to different aspects, with dental plaque being the primary cause of any infections of the gum. Still, several other health issues exacerbate periodontal diseases. At Center for Advanced Periodontics and Implant Dentistry, we stress the importance of periodontal maintenance after a periodontal procedure. Contact us to learn more about tips to keep your gums healthy.
What Is Preventive Care in Dentistry?
Preventive care in dentistry refers to dental care designed to help individuals maintain good oral health. Preventive dentistry combines regular check-ups at our practice and your ability to develop and maintain good oral hygiene habits like brushing twice a day and flossing at least once daily.
What Is Periodontal Disease?
Periodontal disease, commonly known as gum disease, is an infection that affects the soft tissues covering teeth. Without treatment, periodontitis can progress and destroy the bone supporting the teeth. Without bone support, teeth can become loose, ultimately leading to lost teeth.
Periodontal Disease Stages
Your gums are firm to the touch when they are healthy. Periodontal disease changes this by first causing your gums to swell, changing their color to reddish or purplish, and then causing bleeding whenever you brush.
Gingivitis
Gingivitis is the earliest stage of gum disease. Some of the major signs and symptoms of gingivitis include red, puffy gums that bleed when you brush or floss. At this stage, you are not at risk of bone loss, and the condition is still reversible if proper treatment is performed.
Mild Periodontitis
Mild periodontitis is the second stage of periodontal disease. This stage defines the spread of bacteria to the areas beneath your gums. The bacteria will exacerbate the infection, and this stage is associated with the creation of pockets around the teeth. The condition becomes worse when plaque and bacteria begin to hide in these pockets. Even if you brush and floss daily, it is hard to remove the plaque and bacteria hiding in these pockets because the pockets are inaccessible.
Moderate Periodontitis
The third stage of the periodontal disease is the moderate stage. The major symptoms in this stage include the erosion of the soft tissues and the bone that holds the teeth in their positions by bacteria that will have multiplied significantly by now. This stage is also noticeable by bad breath and the presence of pus around your gum line. At this stage, some people experience significant pain in their gums.
Advanced Periodontitis
The last stage of periodontal disease is the advanced stage. It occurs when you leave gum disease to worsen. At this stage, the effects on your bone continue, causing your teeth to loosen and then eventually fall out.
Causes of Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease has one primary cause: a buildup of plaque around your teeth. Plaque contains harmful bacteria that cause infection in your gums. If you do not practice proper oral hygiene, you are at a higher risk of developing gum disease. In some rare cases, genetics contribute to the onset of gum disease by changing the way your immune system responds to harmful bacteria.
Periodontal Disease Risk Factors
Several risk factors increase your chance of getting periodontal disease. For example, smoking, poor oral hygiene, diabetes, autoimmune disease, hormonal changes, stress, heart disease, and genetics increase your risk of gum disease.
Care for Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease is preventable. Use the following oral hygiene habits for healthy gums:
Tooth Brushing
Gum disease prevention can be as simple as brushing your teeth at least twice each day. If you can, it is recommended that you brush your teeth after every meal to reduce the risk of periodontitis. It is important to change your toothbrush at least every three to four months to prevent the growth of bacteria on the brush. It is also preferable to use a soft toothbrush because a harder toothbrush worsens the initial symptoms of periodontitis by causing the gums to bleed and open up.
Flossing
Flossing is also a dental plaque prevention technique. You cannot rely on toothbrushing alone. Sometimes, your toothbrush cannot reach the fine parts of your teeth, like the grooves in between, but your flossing will.
Dental Checkups
As part of your periodontal disease prevention techniques, you should schedule regular appointments with our dentist. Our dentist will identify the onset of gum disease and advise you on the best ways of preventing gum inflammation. If you are at a higher risk of developing periodontitis, it is better to make frequent visits to our dentist.
In addition to identifying the onset of gum disease, our dentist will advise you on how to address overcrowded and misaligned teeth as part of an oral health regimen for preventing periodontal disease. Any one of these aspects increases the risk of food debris collecting around your teeth and causing periodontitis.
Lifestyle Changes
There are a few aspects in your life that increase the risk of you developing periodontitis. Some of these aspects include smoking and alcohol consumption. Smoking puts you at a greater risk of having tartar buildup on your teeth, which then leads to infection and periodontitis. Our dentist will advise you to make lifestyle changes, such as giving up on your cigarettes and alcohol.
Eat a Balanced Diet
A balanced diet is another oral health regimen for preventing periodontal disease. If your diet is balanced with the correct nutrients, you can experience wonders in your dental health. It is important to choose foods that are rich in calcium, such as yogurt and cheese. Calcium is the major component of your tooth enamel, and eating food richer in calcium fortifies your enamel and prevents any bacteria from getting to the tooth roots.
Other foods known to contain calcium include fruits, spinach, celery, apples, and leafy greens. As you eat enough healthy tooth-building foods, you should also avoid tooth-destroying foods, especially those with too much acid.
Get Your Gum Health Tips
Proper oral hygiene is the starting point in preventive care for periodontal disease. Proper dental hygiene includes brushing at least twice daily, flossing at least once, and knowing how to hold your brush for the best results. If you are still experiencing trouble with gum disease, visit us at Center for Advanced Periodontics and Implant Dentistry to discuss periodontal health strategies. Contact us at 508-996-3131 to schedule your appointment today. |
