To achieve a healthy and beautiful smile, you need to protect your gums as well as your teeth by brushing and flossing every day. Neglecting your smile can lead to the development of gum disease. We encourage you to take steps to prevent gum disease because it’s harmful to your smile.
A buildup of plaque leads to inflammation of the gum tissue, which is why plaque needs to be removed. The early stage of gum disease, gingivitis, can be treated by improving your daily dental habits and rinsing with an antibacterial mouthwash, which eliminates bacterial plaque and washes away food particles. If left untreated, gingivitis causes your gums to swell and bleed easily and can lead to a more advanced stage of gum disease.
Periodontitis is an advanced stage when pockets form in the tissue below the gum line. This allows the accumulation of plaque and food particles, and at this stage, the bones and tissue supporting your teeth become damaged as the gum tissue is infected. Without treatment, the structures in your mouth continue to break down and will eventually be destroyed. Your teeth will become loose and fall out.
To prevent gum disease, brush at least twice a day and floss at least once before rinsing with a mouthwash. Visit the dentist every six months or less for a professional dental cleaning so that we can remove any plaque and tartar above or below your gum line. During these regular dental checkups and cleanings, we can detect any early signs of gum disease.
If you would like to schedule a visit with Dr. [doctor_name] to learn more about gum disease in [city], [state], and why it’s harmful, please call [practice_name] at [phone] today!
Dr. [doctor_name] and our [practice_name] team have been helping patients in [city], [state], with their oral health needs for a while now. Our goal is to support your oral health needs to achieve and maintain healthy smiles.
But what if you are currently struggling with an infected tooth causing you to experience tooth pain? If your tooth is infected or inflamed, you may benefit from our root canal treatment. You see, the center of your tooth holds the tooth pulp. This pulp is made of connective tissues, blood vessels, and nerves which branch out into each root through canals in the tooth. Thanks to decay, they can become inflamed or infected.
A tooth may become compromised by cracking, breaking, having a deep cavity, injury to the tooth, repeated dental treatments such as fillings on a tooth, and even gum disease. All of these scenarios allow bacteria to enter the pulp and damage the tooth.
At our practice, we generally opt for saving a tooth rather than replacing it whenever possible. A root canal allows us to do just that. And while patients often worry that root canals are painful procedures, not only are root canals similar to having a filling done, they provide pain relief from current tooth pain.
So what can you expect when you come in for a root canal treatment? After X-rays have been taken and we determine where the infection lies, we make sure you are as comfortable as possible. Next, our dentist will set to work removing the damaged pulp, thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting the space left behind and filling and sealing the area with gutta-percha, a rubberlike material. After a root canal has been performed, the tooth will need either a dental filling or crown.
How can you avoid dental decay and gum disease? Your first line of defense is prevention. Diligent daily brushing and flossing will remove food particles, bacteria, and plaque that can lead to decay. Coupled with regular dental cleanings to remove hardened plaque and tartar deposits, you will be providing the best possible environment for your oral health.
Even after a root canal treatment, a tooth can still be affected by decay and gum disease. This means maintaining good oral hygiene. If you have any questions or would like to schedule a cleaning and exam, please call us at [phone]. Dr. [doctor_name] and our [practice_name] team in [city], [state], are here for your smile!
If you are looking to perfect your smile for the new year, remember to brush twice daily and floss daily as well. Although these daily oral health care habits are great for protecting our teeth, it’s just as important to prevent harmful materials from ever being present in our mouths to begin with. Some foods can be broken down into harmful acids and begin damaging our teeth and gums long before we have a chance to brush or floss them away.
Feed your mouth healthy foods, not harmful ones. Avoid the following:
Sugary Sweets: Sugar is used by bad bacteria in our mouths and converted into acids which can eat away at our tooth enamel. Foods packed with sugar include candy, soft drinks, juices, cookies, cakes, sports drinks, and various snacks.
Fermentable carbohydrates: Fermentable carbohydrates are carbs that be broken down in our mouths into acids that can eat away at our tooth enamel. These include nearly all types of sugar such as high fructose corn syrup as well as starchy items such as donuts and white bread.
Sticky or Hard Snacks: Sticky candy such as taffy or gummies, along with hard candy such as candy canes and lollipops can damage our teeth or can be difficult to remove via daily cleaning habits. Other easily stuck foods in our mouths include popcorn, various meat products, caramels, peanut butter, and jelly.
Acidic Foods: Many types of sour candy have a pH level comparable to battery acid, so avoidance of them is a must. In addition, even some healthy foods can be extremely acidic, such as lemons and oranges, so be sure to eat them with meals to dilute the acids in them.
Don’t let bad habits ruin your smile. If you need an oral exam or professional cleaning by our dentists at [practice_name] or would like to book an appointment with Dr. [doctor_name], call us at [phone], to schedule a visit to our office in [city], [state]. We look forward to making your smile the best it can be!