Decrease Chances for a Gum Disease Treatment in La Porte

You head to the dentist thinking you’ll have a clean bill of health and receive a lot of praise for your excellent oral hygiene only to find that you have gum disease. But how? Many people have been there before. The fact of the matter is that dental health isn’t just one sided. Healthy gums and teeth take a team of two: you and your Region Dental dentist (either Dr. Berquist or Dr. Ornelas). It’s important to understand that for one, you’re not the only patient that has been surprised with their diagnosis of gum disease. Secondly, it’s important to understand that not only is gum disease preventable but that it’s effects are reversible if you receive a gum disease treatment in La Porte early on.

Understanding Gum Disease

Gum disease starts when plaque from sugary, processed foods along with other dangerous bacteria in your mouth builds up along and under the gum line. Plaque, a sticky film-like substance, sits on our teeth, gums, and tongue and hardens over time if it’s not removed—creating dangerous tartar. It can cause infections that deteriorate your healthy teeth, gums, and jawbone.  Some signs of gum disease include:

• Loose permanent teeth
• Chronic bad breath
• Bleeding gums
• Inflamed gums
• Receding gums

If left untreated, gum disease can advance to periodontal disease. The only way to improve your dental health from that point would be with extensive periodontal treatments like scaling and root planing.

Prevention Precautions

Gum disease can be easily prevented with good oral hygiene at home and regular dental visits with either Dr. Berquist or Dr. Ornelas for dental checkups and professional cleanings. Your La Porte dentist can help you to maintain a strong, healthy smile with these four easy steps.

1.                  Brush twice a day, every day.

This may seem like a given, but a lot of people don’t know how often they should brush or how to get the most out of their dental routine. Our dental practice recommends that you gently brush your teeth twice a day. Use a soft tooth brush with flexible bristles can reach all areas of your mouth. Every time you brush, aim for two minutes and focus on massaging your teeth and gums rather than scrubbing them.

2.                  Floss once daily.

It’s admittedly not the most entertaining part of anyone’s day, but flossing still remains a critical part of your dental routine. Flossing between each of your teeth thoroughly removes plaque that would otherwise hide in the cervices of your teeth and turn into tartar, eventually leading to inflamed and infected gums.

3.                  Rinsing with mouthwash is a big help.

Using a good mouthwash will not only keep your breath fresh along with your dental routine (it’s not a shortcut or substitute to proper brushing and flossing), it can help keep harmful bacteria at bay. We recommend mouthwashes that kill bacteria and prevent tooth decay like antiseptic and fluoride enriched mouthwashes.

4.                  Visit your dentist!

The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends scheduling general appointments with your dentist twice a year for dental checkups and professional cleanings.

The best part is that most insurances cover these routine dental appointments! Why wouldn’t you take advantage of the opportunity to have your teeth and gums thoroughly examined, professionally cleaned, and even have a custom treatment plan developed if any health concerns were to arise? This way, our dental office can keep you two steps ahead of sneaky gum disease.

Contact us today to fit a dental appointment conveniently into your schedule. Our office hours are open later than most practices to make visiting your La Porte dentist easier than ever!