Periodontal Disease Is The Silent Gum Killer

Do you have healthy gums? Or do your gums bleed when you floss? The unfortunate part about gum disease is that people often do not know when they have periodontal disease until the disease has set in and your gums are swollen and bleeding. At this stage it may require more expensive treatment, you may lose a tooth, or it may take several treatments in order to get your smile back on track.

While you may have plaque underneath your gum tissue that is causing inflammation and other problems, you may not know it until it is too late. Dr. Denine Rice recommends these 5 steps to keep your gums healthy and to stop periodontal disease in its tracks.

1. Brush and floss everyday. This is a no brainer and there is no other activity that can remove food from between the teeth the same way. Yet, millions of Americans skip this important step everyday.

2. Eat healthy food. Food that is high in water concentration and low in carbohydrates helps remove food from between the teeth in between brushing and flossing. The longer that food stays on your teeth the more problems that can occur.

3. Visit your periodontist on a regular basis. If your gums are bleeding or swollen visit the periodontist in order to get a good read on what is going on with your gums. Don’t wait until your teeth are loose and your gums are sensitive. Visit your dentist every six months to keep your gums healthy.

4. Drink water and avoid soda. The sugar content in soda can add to the problems that cause periodontal disease. Drinking water can help remove food from the teeth, decreasing your risk of periodontal disease.

5. Use a Waterpik plus flossing. A Waterpik can help to remove any remaining food that is deep below the gum line that flossing is not able to reach. Once you have flossed, use your Waterpik and ensure your gums are getting the treatment they deserve.

Your gums can last a lifetime. You just have to spend time taking care of them. For more tips on how to keep your gums healthy, contact Dr. Rice and her team today.

Should I expect to lose my teeth when I’m older?

Losing your teeth is not a part of the normal aging process. It is due to gum disease from poor brushing and flossing habits, not visiting the dentist on a regular basis, or poor overall health. The early stage of gum disease is called gingivitis and begins when bacteria builds up in the mouth. When bleeding first occurs intercept the disease by changing your oral routine. It is also recommended by Dr. Denine Rice, of Rice Periodontics and Implant Surgery of Riverside, CA that you schedule an appointment with your dentist or periodontist in order to receive a comprehensive exam to determine the extent of the disease.

Nevertheless, if you do not change your dental habits plaque will continue to build along the gum line. This build-up can become a more aggressive form of gingivitis called periodontal disease. The gums, like a pocket, fit tightly around your teeth in order to hold them in place. And as you age, you may become more susceptible to other diseases that impact your overall health as well as the health of your gums.

Delta Dental of Northwest reports that today about, “sixty percent of adults sixty-five and older have lost at least six or more teeth.” This is an improvement as in the early 1900’s, individuals often had their teeth removed at age twenty-one as a right of passage and to prevent them from falling out. Still individuals today have many more opportunities to keep their natural teeth. They have the ability to visit great dentists and periodontists who can provide state-of-the-art laser technology, such as LANAP surgery for periodontal disease. Dr. Rice says, “Great oral care practices can save your teeth for a lifetime.” Begin taking care of your teeth today by calling for an appointment.

Why flossing is critical to gum health

“Brushing is a great way to prevent dental disease however, it’s not enough,” suggests Denine Rice, periodontist atRice Periodontics and Implant Surgery. Flossing is critical to keep your gums healthy because it removes food particles between the teeth that flossing cannot reach.

There are five surfaces on the teeth. Two of them are between other teeth. If you do not floss your teeth then you are leaving two surfaces without any defense against bacteria or plaque.  Plaque is a sticky substance that attaches to the surfaces of your teeth. If you eat a lot of sugar or foods with carbohydrates the amount of food that sticks to your enamel is even larger.

When plaque builds up, the gums become inflamed and there is potential for bone loss. As bone loss happens and you become older it attacks the lower third of your face causing you too look older than you are.  While we live in a society that is always looking for the fountain of youth, Dr. Rice suggests, “that flossing from a young age will improve your looks and its is significantly cheaper than replacing your teeth later on in life.”

When you first begin to floss your gums may bleed a little. Do not let this stop you from developing and staying with your flossing routine. However, if bleeding continues you may want to make an appointment with your dentist, as this unfortunately could be the start to periodontal disease.