Bloomsburg, Danville, and Lewisburg, PA
Is good dental hygiene a part of your daily routine? If not, it should be. Being diligent about your dental hygiene keeps your teeth clean and looking good, but the benefits go beyond that. Good dental care also is key to lowering your risk of gum disease, a chronic and potentially serious ailment that can impact your overall health. Left untreated, gum disease can do permanent damage to your teeth and mouth, eventually causing tooth loss. Hamilton Dental Care is here to explain the health threats associated with untreated gum disease, discuss how your Bloomsburg dentists treat it and offer advice on how to prevent this common oral disease.
What causes gum disease?
This disease occurs from a bacterial infection in your gums. This infection usually develops due to poor oral hygiene that allows the buildup of harmful plaque and bacteria. Smoking also can increase your risk factor for gum disease, as can other pre-existing conditions such as diabetes and pregnancy.
Early detection is key. That’s why it is so important to identify gum disease and seek treatment in its first stage, which is called gingivitis. If gum disease is treated in this stage, then you avoid permanent damage to your oral health. Are your gums tender, swollen, bleeding or inflamed? Are you experiencing a sudden increase in tooth sensitivity? How about chronic bad breath? All of these are symptoms of gingivitis, and if you experience any combination of them, you should see your Bloomsburg dentist as soon as possible.
Here’s how gum disease can cause other health problems in your body
According to data compiled by the American Academy of Periodontology, patients with severe and untreated cases of gum disease face nearly twice the risk factor of developing heart disease. Medical research also has linked gum disease to a greater prevalence of other chronic health conditions, including Alzheimer’s, stroke, respiratory disease, and even certain forms of cancer.
Since gum disease affects your gums, it provides easy access for the harmful bacteria to enter your bloodstream, and then travel throughout your body. Gum disease essentially is an ongoing infection that your immune system works to fight. However, without professional dental treatment, the disease will slowly take a toll not only on your oral health but your body.
Laser gum therapy in Bloomsburg
In the past, treatment for gum disease meant having surgery, which resulted in a longer recovery period, and patients endeared a greater level of discomfort afterward. Laser dentistry has changed all that. Using our precise dental laser, our dentists Dr. David Hamilton and Dr. Joel Hamilton can target the infected tissue, vaporizing it and leaving more of your healthy gum tissue intact. Laser therapy means a shorter recovery time, less bleeding and swelling, and minimal discomfort.
How can I prevent developing gum disease?
Your best defense against gum disease is to take ownership of your oral health. Maintain an oral health regimen that includes brushing your teeth twice a day, and flossing daily. Quit using tobacco in any form, and eat a healthy, balanced diet. Also, it is essential to receive dental cleanings and checkups at least twice per year. Even the best brushers develop tartar buildup, which harbors harmful bacteria that leads to gum disease. Having routine dental cleanings to remove tartar buildup can help you prevent gum disease.
Complete Oral Care in Bloomsburg
To learn more about how Hamilton Dental Care can treat gum disease or other ways to protect your oral health, please call our office at (570) 387-0533 schedule a consultation.
Hamilton Dental Care serves patients in the areas of Bloomsburg, Danville, and Lewisburg in Pennsylvania.
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