Colorado Advanced Dentistry

The 411 on Gingivitis

Gingivitis is the mild form of gum disease, but if it isn’t treated early, it can lead to more serious dental health problems, including tooth loss, upper respiratory disease, and chronic bad breath.

If you would like to know more about this gum disease and how you can prevent it, check out this clip. You’ll learn about how to brush and floss, how to maintain an oral-health friendly diet, and how to keep gingivitis from progressing. If you want to maintain a beautiful and healthy smile, follow the tips in this video.

If you need help maintaining a healthy smile, visit Colorado Advanced Dentistry. We offer laser gum therapy, a gum disease treatment that is fast, minimally invasive, painless, and effective. To learn more about this treatment, visit our website or call us at (720) 420-1103 today.

Who is at Risk for Gum Disease?

Gum disease is a harmful and common dental condition that is easily prevented with the right dental hygiene routine. By simply following your dentist’s instructions on how to maintain a healthy mouth, you can help ensure that you won’t develop gum disease. Take a look at the following information to learn who may be at risk for this condition:

• People Who Don’t Brush Twice a Day

Gum disease, or periodontal disease, develops as a result of plaque and tartar buildup. Plaque contains acidic bacteria that can break down oral tissue around the teeth and dissolve tooth enamel. When you brush your teeth, you scrub potentially harmful bacteria away, allowing your oral tissues to remain strong. If you don’t brush at least twice a day, oral bacteria can damage the gums that support your teeth, causing them to recede.

• People Who Don’t Floss Every Day

While it is essential to brush your teeth every day, you simply can’t stop there. Bacteria hide in the crevices between your teeth and under your gum line, which are places where your toothbrush can’t reach. Flossing allows you to clean these areas and is an integral component of gum disease prevention. Failing to floss daily significantly increases your risk for gum disease and leads to a high risk of tooth loss. When you floss, be sure to glide the strand underneath the gums to reach hidden plaque. Do this daily to prevent tartar buildup.

• People Who Don’t Visit the Dentist

Modern toothbrushes and floss are designed to help prevent plaque buildup, but these items alone cannot remove all plaque and tartar. You should also visit your dentist two to three times a year for a routine exam and professional dental cleaning. This will further decrease your risk of developing gum disease, as well as cavities, tooth loss, and other dental health problems.

If you require a dental exam and cleaning, call Colorado Advanced Dentistry to schedule an appointment today. We specialize in general and restorative dentistry, which allows us to address a wide range of oral health needs. To find out more, call (720) 420-1103.

Gum Disease as it Relates to Your Overall Health

It’s important to take proper care of your teeth and gums throughout your life. Below, you’ll find links to articles that provide helpful information on the dangers of gum disease and how you can prevent oral infection. 

• Gain a better understanding of gum disease by reading through this article from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.
• To learn how the bacteria that cause gum disease can interfere with your heart, check out this Parade article. 
• Read more about the link between gum disease and upper respiratory illnesses by visiting this page from Inside Dentistry.
• Follow the brushing and flossing tips in this WebMD article to learn the right way to practice proper dental care.
• Did you know that eating certain foods can help you fight bacterial growth in your mouth? To learn which items you should add to your diet, check out this article from Delta Dental.

Call Colorado Advanced Dentistry at (720) 420-1103 to receive the oral care and education you need to remain healthy.

Gum Disease is a Risk Factor for Heart Disease

Did you know that a dentist can detect more than 100 different diseases just by examining your mouth? This is just one of the reasons why it is so important to visit your dentist regularly, especially to detect if you have gum disease.

In this video, you can learn more about the value of having your gums, oral tissues, and teeth regularly evaluated by a dental health professional. You’ll also learn how the condition of your mouth can affect your risk for conditions such as pulmonary heart disease, diabetes, and upper respiratory infection.

Now that you know how important it is to visit the dentist, call Colorado Advanced Dentistry at (720) 420-1103 to schedule your next dental exam. We set the bar high when it comes to our patients’ dental health, so rely on us for quality dental care.

The Major Health Risks Related to Gum Disease

The milder symptoms of gum disease include swollen gums, chronic bad breath, bleeding oral tissue, and pain when eating. Yet as gingivitis progresses, it becomes periodontitis, which can lead to gum recession and tooth loss. If periodontitis isn’t treated in a timely manner, bacteria from the oral infection could enter the blood stream, causing major health complications.

• Upper Respiratory Disease

Gum disease is an infection that resides in-between teeth and underneath the gums. If enough infectious material is swallowed, it can cause a severe inflammatory response. This could lead to upper respiratory disease, a series of risky health conditions that includes pneumonia, acute bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. These conditions can each worsen if the infection enters the bloodstream, which is possible without proper periodontal treatment.

• Hardening of the Arteries

According to a recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology, the atherosclerosis is a key component of heart disease. In addition, narrowed arteries result in decreased blood flow, which can lead to hypertension, tissue decay, and other health problems.

• Stress on the Body

The toxins emitted by the bacteria found in plaque can cause harm throughout the body. In fact, scientists are increasingly finding links between gum disease and conditions like diabetes, kidney disease, osteoporosis, and cancer. When the body is stressed, the heart and immune system become stressed as well, which causes them to work less efficiently.

You can easily prevent these health risks and complications by visiting Colorado Advanced Dentistry. We use state-of-the-art gum disease treatments to remove infection and reduce your risk of these dangerous conditions. Schedule your appointment by calling us at (720) 420-1103 or visit us online to learn more about our services.