Gum disease is a leading cause of tooth loss in adults, yet many don't know what to look for or know enough about how to prevent it. For more information reach out to Dr. Thomas Yanik of Yanik Dental in Windsor Locks, CT.
Symptoms
Pain is a very noticeable, and very hard to ignore, sign that something may be wrong with your gums. You may notice that they are tender, inflamed, and red as opposed to their healthy pink.
Alongside the presence of blood at the time of brushing or flossing, something else to look for is teeth becoming loose, or changes to your bite.
All of them could be symptoms of gum disease, but in its early stages, it might be more difficult to detect on your own, which is why regular checkups are so crucial.
Prevention
The other reason why checkups are important is that professional dental cleaning can often reverse gum disease in these early stages. Even if it has progressed, the earliest it is detected and treated the better your chances of success.
Perhaps the most important reason for regular visits to your dentist is prevention.
Plaque builds daily on our teeth and daily brushing and flossing can eliminate most of it, but along the harder to reach spaces is where it accumulates. Often along the gumline. To make matters worse, because of the minerals in our saliva the plaque can harden into tartar, which is difficult for you to remove on your own.
This is where routine professional dental cleanings can help, by eliminating the built-up plaque and tartar in those difficult to clean areas in your mouth. The recommended bi-annual visits, along with the dental hygiene you do on your own, can keep your mouth plaque-free and drastically reduce your chances of gum disease.
General Dentist in Windsor Locks, CT
If you suspect you may be suffering from gum disease, or if it's simply been too long since your last visit, then it's time to schedule an appointment. To do so, call Dr. Yanik of Yanik Dental in Windsor Locks, CT, by dialing (860) 623-1116.