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In addition to having wide-reaching negative impacts on our oral health, periodontal disease can also affect our general physical health. Our dentists in Port Moody define periodontitis and offer tips on prevention.
What is periodontitis (gum disease)?
The progressive condition of periodontitis is also known as gum disease. It silently invades your gums and is usually painless in its early stages (gingivitis) but can easily advance before you notice any pain or other issues.
Plaque builds up on your teeth and along the gum line before hardening into tartar or calculus - a porous, rough deposit. Pockets collect between irritated gums and the teeth, where bacteria collect and may lead to other health problems such as cardiovascular disease. Once hardened, only your dentist will have the tools to remove plaque.
Once it advances, gum disease can cause bone loss and gum deterioration - and eventually lead to losing teeth. Periodontitis is actually one of the most common causes of tooth loss for adults.
That's why it's so important to maintain a daily oral hygiene routine of brushing and flossing, along with attending regular dental hygiene appointments - to prevent disease and protect your oral health.
How can I prevent periodontitis?
There are also some less obvious tips that may help you avoid gum disease or reduce your risk of getting it. You may want to:
Take inventory of your medications. Certain medications can contribute to and aggravate gum disease, including antidepressants, heart medicines and oral contraceptives.
Increase your consumption of vitamins A and C, which are part of a healthy diet that can help prevent periodontitis. Conversely, cut sugary and starchy foods, which allow plaque to build.
Have dental issues treated quickly. Correct dental problems or oral health issues such as teeth grinding, misaligned or crowded teeth. It can be more challenging to properly clean teeth that aren’t properly spaced, thus providing room for plaque to grow and thrive.
Gently massage your gums. Along with brushing and flossing regularly (at least twice a day for two minutes each time for brushing, and once daily for thorough flossing), show your gums some love by gently massaging them, which increases blood flow to the tissue.
Use fluoride toothpaste.This key ingredient removes the buildup of plaque bacteria along the gum line without irritating gums.
Quit smoking. Smoking is not only strongly associated with the onset of gum disease, it makes it more difficult for your gums to heal once they’re damaged, as smoking weakens the immune system.
Know your risks. Whether genetics, diet, age, smoking or other factors make you more susceptible to periodontitis, knowledge is power when it comes to reducing your risk and staying healthy.
Bonus: Ask your dentist about periodontal disease treatment. The earlier your dentist can detect periodontitis (if you do get it), the better. That's because it's easier to treat gum disease in its earlier stages, than when it has advanced to the point that you start to lose teeth or jaw bone tissue. Depending on how far the disease has progressed and its severity, there are surgical and non-surgical options for treatment.
Regular oral hygiene - and reducing your personal risk factors - will go a long way in the fight to prevent gum disease. Our gums are as important as our teeth when it comes to our oral health, so it’s important not to neglect them.