Life is full of chances, and unfortunately, your oral and overall health is included. For instance, gum disease is largely controllable with good hygiene, but even if you carefully brush and floss your teeth every day, you face the chance of missing a spot or two of dental plaque. Given time, plaque may have the chance to harden into tartar, which is too strong for your toothbrush and can protect the germs in your mouth while they go about their destructive work. As your Livonia dentist explains, you can avoid gambling with gum disease and other destructive dental diseases by not giving them a fair chance to develop.
All the Cards on the Table
Gum disease is surrounded by a few misconceptions that might bluff you into believing that it isn’t an issue, or that it isn’t a threat even if it does develop. The bleeding gums that mark its presence aren’t accompanied by discomfort, which makes some patients believe a little blood is harmless when brushing their teeth. The truth, however, is that bleeding and inflamed gums are the result of a bacterial infection that’s slowly destroying your gum tissue. Left unchecked, gum disease will completely erode your gums and can lead to varying degrees of tooth loss. If you wait until your teeth become sensitive to decide that you should seek treatment, then it likely means that gum disease has exposed your teeth’s roots, and tooth loss may be inevitable.
The Ace Up Your Sleeve
Brushing and flossing your teeth at least twice a day is commendable. In fact, it’s necessary to controlling the germs that work to destroy your smile. By themselves, however, your toothbrush and floss aren’t enough to effectively keep your smile healthy. The only way to remove tartar, or calcified plaque, from your teeth and gums is to attend a routine dental checkup and cleaning. Your secret weapon against gum disease and dental health issues is the professional care and maintenance provided by Dr. Stewart and our compassionate team. Your regular visits, which you should attend at least once every six months, will allow us to thoroughly remove harmful bacteria, plaque, and tartar from your teeth and gums, and inspect your mouth for early signs of disease. If prevention fails, then dealing with the issue early can help you keep it under the table, so to speak, by controlling it without the need for extensive dental work.
About Dr. James Stewart:
Our philosophy is that excellent dental begins with developing a relationship with the patient. James Steward, DDS, and our compassionate staff proudly serve patients of all ages from Livonia, Farmington Hills, Plymouth, Northville, Dearborn Heights, Garden City, and all surrounding communities. To schedule an appointment, call our office today at (734) 425-4400.