When you smile into a mirror, what do you see? Teeth and gums, right? It's important to take care of both. At Yanik Dental in Windsor Locks, your general dentist, Dr. Thomas Yanik, wants you informed on gum health so you avoid periodontal disease, a threat to your systemic well-being and of course, to your smile.
Do you have periodontal disease?
Periodontal disease is an infection of the soft tissue which surrounds, nourishes and supports your tooth roots. When normal and healthy, gums are firm and pink if you are light skinned and brown to purple if you are dark-skinned. Variations in the color, texture, and position of gum tissue signals gum disease: mild gingivitis to advanced forms of periodontitis.
Other symptoms of gum disease include:
- Bad breath
- Drainage
- Pus
- Sores on the gums
- Gum recession
- Deep gum pockets (greater than three millimeters)
- Drifting, loose teeth
- Variations in dental bite
- Changes in dental alignment (gaps)
- Sensitivity to biting and chewing and/or to heat and cold
- Bleeding when brushing
- Tenderness when touched or probed
- Puffiness
- Gum recession
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) states that at least half of Americans age 30 and older have some or many of these signs of periodontal disease and may not be aware of them. Tooth loss and systemic health problems, such as heart disease, dementia, hypertension, and more, often appear linked to poor gum health.
How it happens
The American Dental Association (ADA) reports that poor oral hygiene habits lead to some degree of gum disease. Our mouths naturally form sticky plaque and hard calculus, or tartar, from the foods and beverages we consume. When not removed with twice daily brushing and flossing and semi-annual cleanings and examinations with your Windsor Locks general dentist, plaque and tartar literally push gum tissue away from tooth roots.
Bacteria collects in these pockets, and destructive infection develops. Besides spotty oral hygiene habits, age, smoking, stress, teeth clenching, and simple heredity contribute to gum disease, reports Self magazine.
How Dr. Yanik can help
Dr. Yanik and his team provide complete oral assessments and professional cleanings. If the doctor discovers gum issues, he will recommend ways to restore your oral health. These interventions may include:
- Deep cleaning and root planing with application of antibiotics
- Gum grafting (for extensive tissue loss)
- Better brushing and flossing habits at home
- A low-carbohydrate diet
- Examinations and cleanings at least every six months at Yanik Dental
- Limiting alcohol consumption
- Smoking cessation, including e-cigarettes
For healthier gums and a healthier you...
Come to Yanik Dental for a check-up and cleaning. We offer friendly, caring, state of the art services for patients of all ages. Phone for your appointment with your general dentist in Windsor Locks, CT, at (860) 623-1116.