Categories: Family Dentist

Your Family Dentist Can Treat Gum Disease and Prevent Further Health Issues

As a family dentist office, Bay Dental Associates provides ongoing oral health care to families throughout the area. Preventative dental care is extremely important for both the health of your mouth and the health of your body overall.

Many people are unaware that infected teeth and gums can have a negative impact on the rest of their health, but studies have shown that gum disease can make pregnant women go into labor early and have low birth weight babies. This is a serious ramification that should be prevented whenever possible. During pregnancy it is important to have teeth cleaned at least twice in order to prevent and treat the symptoms of gum disease.

Additional studies have linked gum disease to heart disease. Millions of Americans suffer from some form of heart disease, and it is the number one killer of both men and women. This is a staggering statistic. What most people don’t know is that 91 percent of people with heart disease also have gum disease. Scientists believe this is due to the inflammation of the gums, but ongoing research is being conducted to study fully how they are linked. What is clear though is that healthy gums are important for a healthy heart and regular trips to your family dentist can help.

When you schedule an appointment with Bay Dental Associates, our dental hygienist will clean your teeth and remove bacteria and plaque from on your teeth and gums. This prevents cavities and gum disease. Our family dentist will then examine your mouth to determine if there are any signs of infection. If there are, treatment recommendations will be made. This may include treating a cavity, performing a root canal, or deep cleaning the gums. By identifying infection early, your treatments will be faster and more comfortable than if you allow infection to spread and impact other areas of the mouth.

Gum disease is a perfect example of why early detection and treatment is so important. The early stage of gum disease is called gingivitis. It can make gums swell, turn red, and bleed slightly. It is uncomfortable but not particularly painful. When found during a routine dental exam treatment can be performed by conducting a deep cleaning. Bacteria are removed from on and underneath the gums which gives them the ability to heal. Typically this will solve the problem and all signs of gum disease will go away. However, if it is left untreated the disease can spread and create major health problems. Severe gum disease will create pockets in the gum tissue and expose the tooth structure and root system while creating a place for bacteria to gather. Oral surgery and gum grafts are often necessary to correct the problem. In the meantime, gum disease will be negatively impacting your overall health including the health of your heart. This can be avoided by simply visiting the dentist twice a year. Schedule an appointment to have your teeth cleaned and examined so that you can stay in good health overall.