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New research conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 79% of individuals are faced with gum disease today. Some factors that play a role in the overall impact of periodontal disease are economic status, ethnic minorities, tobacco users and individuals who do not have access to dental care. The number one way to prevent periodontal disease, if you fit into any of these categories, is to floss your teeth. Visiting the periodontist for treatment as soon as possible however, is the only way to get your periodontal disease under control.

The great thing about treatment today is that Dr. Rice and her team have access to an FDA approved periodontal laser that can help clean below the gum line and can decrease your risk of periodontal disease impacting your overall health. Lasers can go below the gum line and clean out the bacteria that is impacting your gum tissue and mean you can get your smile back on track.  Once the laser is used to clean around the infected gum tissue near the root, the laser then gets to work on taking care of the periodontal disease, getting it under control.

Periodontal laser surgery not only improves your dental and general health, but it results in less pain and zero sutures.

For more information on periodontal laser procedures contact Dr. Denine Rice & her team today.

3 Foods That Can Damage Your Gums

The food we eat can impact or help your gums. The more damage you cause to your gums over time, the less likely they are to remain healthy and supportive of your teeth. Our gums hold our teeth in place. Periodontal disease can cause bacteria to go below the gum line causing the gums to pull away from the teeth.  Dr. Rice recommends you avoid or limit these three foods to reduce your chances of losing your teeth to periodontal disease.

Popcorn can damage your gums, but also get stuck underneath the gums causing more problems for your smile. Once you consume popcorn you’ll want to floss right away and limit the opportunity for popcorn to damage your smile.

High sugar candy is another problem for your gums. The longer that sugar sits on the gums, the greater the  opportunity that the sugar has to mix with bacteria that is already in your mouth. The bacteria and sugar becomes acidic. The more acidic your mouth is, the higher level of damage that can occur.

High carbohydrate foods can also be damaging to your gums. Carbohydrates are more likely to stick to your gums and not wash off with saliva. The higher concentration of carbohydrates you consume in one meal, the more food that is sticking to your gums in between brushing.

For more information on how to keep your gums healthy, contact Dr. Rice & her team today.

10 Things You Should Know About Your Gums

Your gums are an important part of your mouth and require you to take extra special care of them. Here are ten things you should know to protect your gums.

1.     Gums are soft tissue that can be impacted by bacteria from food and certain drinks.

2.     Your gums can last a lifetime if you take care of them. As long as your brush, floss and visit the dentist on a regular basis you can avoid most major dental problems.

3.     Brushing and flossing removes bacteria from the mouth that can damage the gums. Bacteria is found in the mouth in mass quantities. By brushing and flossing regularly you are not going to remove all of the bacteria, but you will be able to manage it.

4.     Fruits and vegetables with a high concentration of water can remove leftover food from your gums.

5.     Gums help protect your teeth from damage.

6.     Decay can go beneath the gum line to cause additional damage.

7.     If your gums begin to recede due to bacteria, it can cause problems with your teeth, as most likely the bone is being lost as well.

8.     Unhealthy gums can cause sensitivity for teeth.

9.     Healthy gums do not bleed and are not red or swollen.

10.  When unhealthy bacteria taken care of, your gum health can improve.