February isn’t just the month when we celebrate all things love; it’s also Gum Disease Awareness Month. Gum disease is linked to Alzheimer’s, cardiovascular disease, coronary artery disease, diabetes, liver cancer and rheumatoid arthritis. Costa Dentistry is here to help you maintain healthy gums, so you don’t lose your pearly whites!
Costa Dentistry Explains Gum Disease Progression
Your gums provide a barrier preventing harmful elements from getting through and attacking your teeth. If you don’t maintain your gums, you risk your teeth.
Stage One: Gum Disease
Gingivitis is an early sign of Gum disease, which occurs when bad bacteria make their way under the gums. At this stage, you’ll often notice bleeding, irritated, and swollen gums. Timely intervention with Costa Dentistry can often reverse gum disease.
Stage Two: Early Periodontitis
The loss of the bones anchoring your teeth can begin even though you might not notice symptoms. The good news is this gum deterioration can be detected during your regular dental checkups, which is one of the main reasons why regular visits to Costa Dentistry are so important to keeping healthy teeth and gums.
Stage Three: Moderate Periodontitis
If periodontitis is left untreated, essential jaw bone and gum tissue are continually whittled away until you feel that your teeth are beginning to feel loose. Manage the disease with dental intervention.
Stage Four: Advanced Periodontitis
In the most severe stage of gum disease, loose teeth interfere with proper chewing, making eating painful. Bacteria have spread from the soft tissues and jawbone into the bloodstream. It wears down your immune system, leaving you vulnerable to the illnesses we mentioned above.
Get Proactive with Your Gum Care at Costa Dentistry
Show your smile some love for long-lasting health and functionality!
- Invest in an electric toothbrush that does a thorough job of removing dental plaque. Use soft bristles that are gentle on your gum tissue and around the gumline.
- Floss to get rid of food particles and bacteria between teeth under the gum line to prevent plaque and tartar buildup. It’s vital that you swipe the floss up and around the gum line of every tooth to catch any oral debris left behind after brushing.
- Schedule routine dental visits. Deep cleanings maintain tooth and gum health and allow dentists to spot developing problems early.
This Gum Disease Awareness Month, why not show your smile the love it deserves for healthy teeth and gums?
Now is a good time to schedule your next dental cleaning and exam. Our dedicated dental team loves helping patients get healthy, beautiful smiles!