912-354-9541
Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease if left unchecked can have a serious impact on your oral health. In short periodontal disease is an inflammation of the gum tissue caused bacteria, plaque and tartar.
Bacteria in your mouth can feed on food particles and sugar from beverages. Over time these deposits form plaque, if plaque is not removed daily, it hardens into tartar. Tartar near the gum line can cause the gum tissues to start to pull away from the teeth. This exposes protected parts of your teeth and bone material in the jaw to bacterial infection.
The early symptoms of periodontal disease include red and swollen gums, bleeding during brushing and flossing as well as persistent bad breath. More severe symptoms might also include a difference in the way your teeth bite together or a feeling like your teeth are slightly loose in the gums.
Prevention through an effective oral hygiene regimen is the best tool for fighting periodontal disease. Brushing your teeth twice a day helps remove food particles before bacteria can try to turn them into plaque.
Flossing twice a day will also help improve overall gum health. Excess plaque between the teeth can lead to a buildup of tartar. Once tartar develops it can only be removed by your dentist. This is just one of the reasons why visiting your dentist twice a year is so important.
During your routine appointments we monitor your mouth for early warning signs, answer questions and help you improve your brushing and flossing technique. If you have questions about gum disease, please feel free to call us at 912-354-9541 to schedule an appointment.