Do you know the best way to treat periodontal disease? Preventive dental care is your best defense against periodontitis and future tooth loss. Why take the chance of developing gingivitis, which can lead to periodontitis, when routine dental care can save you from tooth loss and becoming friends with the local periodontologist?
What Are Periodontal Diseases?
Periodontal diseases include gingivitis and the more advanced stage of gum disease, periodontitis. Periodontitis can result in tooth loss. A periodontologist is a gum specialist.
Gingivitis: First Stage of Gum Disease
Gingivitis is an early stage periodontal disease which affects the gums around the teeth. With gingivitis, gums become red and swollen. Gingivitis causes gums to be bleed easily. The good news is periodontal disease and gingivitis can be avoided with rotuine dental care.
Gingivitis can also be reversed. Preventive dental care of your teeth and gums now will save you a trip to the periodontologist later.
Periodontitis: Advanced Stage of Gum Disease
When gingivitis develops and is not treated with routine dental care, it can turn into periodontitis. Periodontitis is a more advanced periodontal disease which can lead to tooth loss. With periodontitis, an infection can develop between the gums and the teeth.
Without routine dental care, advanced gum disease will cause teeth to loosen from the gums, resulting in premature tooth loss. If the periodontal disease progresses to this stage, a visit to the periodontologist will be inevitable.
Stop Gum Disease Before It Starts
With preventive dental care, periodontal disease can be stopped in its tracks.
Gum disease is caused by plaque around the teeth and the gums. Plaque can easily be removed from teeth and the gums with routine dental care at home and preventive dental care visits.
With less plaque around the teeth, your chances of developing gingivitis that can turn into a more serious gum disease are reduced. Simple tooth care can help prevent periodontitis and save your smile from tooth loss.
Routine dental visits help you avoid an appointment with the periodontologist.
Preventing Tooth Loss from Gum Disease
Routine brushing of the teeth, tooth flossing, and preventive care dental visits can help you avoid or reverse gingivitis. With each routine tooth brushing you are one step further away from periodontitis.
Performing simple, preventive care that takes only minutes a day can save your teeth, which may save you from spending hours at the periodontologist later. Why skip brushing teeth and flossing when it is your best daily defense against gum disease and tooth loss?
With gingivitis reversed or avoided, there will be no periodontitis, and your teeth will be around for a long time. There will be no premature tooth loss caused by gum disease. You may not ever have to meet the periodontologist.
Author: Pam Gaulin
© 2008 Associated Content