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Are You At Risk for Periodontal Disease?
Oct 1st, 2011
When you think about family dentistry, typically you think about the health and condition of your teeth. However, your gums are also a vitally important part of your overall oral health. After all, no matter how healthy your teeth may be, if periodontal disease is allowed to progress, you may lose them anyway.
As part of Smile & Associates family dentistry practice, we recommend regular thorough periodontal assessment to make sure your gums are as healthy as your teeth. Many people tend to put off a regular dental exam. If their teeth aren’t hurting, they assume everything is fine. If you haven’t had a dental checkup in a while, it’s a good idea to schedule an appointment, especially if you have any of the following risk factors for gum disease.
Are you over 40? Studies show older people have the highest rates of gum disease and must work harder to maintain oral health.
Are you a woman? Despite often having generally better oral care than men, hormonal fluctuations throughout a woman’s life can negatively affect many tissues, including your gums.
Do your gums bleed when you brush? This is a clear sign that something is wrong. However, if you’re a smoker, don’t assume that the absence of bleeding gums means you’re okay. Smoking can restrict your blood vessels, meaning you bleed less often.
Do your teeth seem loose? Unless you’re in elementary school, that’s an indication of a problem. The bacterial infection that causes gum disease can also destroy the connective tissue and bone that holds your teeth in place.
Are your gums receding? Being "long in the tooth†used to mean "getting older.†In reality, it means that your gums are pulling away from your teeth--a sign of periodontal disease.
Do you smoke or dip? Tobacco use may be one of the biggest risk factors for gum disease. Smokers also lose more of the bone and tissue that support teeth.
How is your general health? Conditions like heart disease, osteoporosis, and diabetes have been shown to be linked to periodontal disease.
Whether you have these risk factors or not, regular dental exams including a periodontal assessment are important for maintaining good oral health. If it’s been a while since your last checkup, call our family dentistry office and schedule an appointment today.
As part of Smile & Associates family dentistry practice, we recommend regular thorough periodontal assessment to make sure your gums are as healthy as your teeth. Many people tend to put off a regular dental exam. If their teeth aren’t hurting, they assume everything is fine. If you haven’t had a dental checkup in a while, it’s a good idea to schedule an appointment, especially if you have any of the following risk factors for gum disease.
Are you over 40? Studies show older people have the highest rates of gum disease and must work harder to maintain oral health.
Are you a woman? Despite often having generally better oral care than men, hormonal fluctuations throughout a woman’s life can negatively affect many tissues, including your gums.
Do your gums bleed when you brush? This is a clear sign that something is wrong. However, if you’re a smoker, don’t assume that the absence of bleeding gums means you’re okay. Smoking can restrict your blood vessels, meaning you bleed less often.
Do your teeth seem loose? Unless you’re in elementary school, that’s an indication of a problem. The bacterial infection that causes gum disease can also destroy the connective tissue and bone that holds your teeth in place.
Are your gums receding? Being "long in the tooth†used to mean "getting older.†In reality, it means that your gums are pulling away from your teeth--a sign of periodontal disease.
Do you smoke or dip? Tobacco use may be one of the biggest risk factors for gum disease. Smokers also lose more of the bone and tissue that support teeth.
How is your general health? Conditions like heart disease, osteoporosis, and diabetes have been shown to be linked to periodontal disease.
Whether you have these risk factors or not, regular dental exams including a periodontal assessment are important for maintaining good oral health. If it’s been a while since your last checkup, call our family dentistry office and schedule an appointment today.
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