There are many great reasons to visit your dentist regularly. It’s almost impossible to know if you have periodontal disease because the early signs of the disease are not detectable to the untrained eye. When the disease is caught early, it is easily treated. Early treatment is what you want because gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss.
The initial stage of periodontal disease is called gingivitis. The main cause of it is the buildup of plaque on and between teeth. Brushing and flossing will eliminate most plaque. When plaque hardens, it’s called tartar or calculus, which is too hard to brush away with a toothbrush. The bacteria in tartar produce toxins that attack gum tissue and the bones that support the teeth.
When this bacterial infection spreads well below the gum line, the condition is called periodontitis. In this advanced phase of gum disease, the gum starts to pull away from the teeth, creating pockets. The condition is characterized by bleeding and swollen gums and causes bone loss in the jaw. Eventually, it leads to tooth loss. It also can exacerbate problems like diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
If you, your family, or friends need dental care, we would be honored to provide you with state-of-the-art dental care in our modern dental practice. Refer someone you love to someone you trust!
Presented as a service to the community by Doctors Hoover and Yanda,
39 Milford Drive, Hudson, Ohio 44236. 330-650-0360.
Gum disease affects nearly half of U.S. adults over 30 years of age. Smoking cigarettes is a known risk factor for developing gum disease, but less is known about the impact of e-cigarettes — which vaporize nicotine and other chemicals — on oral health, especially the long-term consequences of vaping.
Researchers at the University of Michigan studied patients receiving periodontal care, dental cleanings, or no dental care during 2016-2018 and who had acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) in 2017.
