Family Dental Care in Venice, FL
For a healthy smile that lasts a lifetime, maintaining great oral hygiene is a necessity. Without proper care for your smile, your teeth and gums will be at the mercy of the millions of bacteria that want nothing but to eat away at your teeth and gums, leaving you at risk for countless health problems that affect not just your mouth, but your entire body. Here at the dental office of Drs. Holbrook & Horak, while we specialize in tooth restoration treatment with dental implants, we also offer comprehensive general dental care that can help you maintain a healthy smile to prevent your dental health from getting to the point where dental implants are necessary.
One of the most useful tools that patients can use to combat oral health problems is information, since knowing what factors put your smile at risk can help you take action to prevent them or at least keep them under control. Below, you can find more information about how to maintain good oral hygiene, and some conditions that could result if you don’t take care of your smile.
Dental Hygiene Appointments & Teeth Cleanings
After the age of four or five, everyone should visit a dentist at least once every six months for an oral health evaluation and professional dental cleaning. Even if you have a thorough and consistent oral hygiene routine at home, plaque can still form in hard to reach areas of your teeth or under your gums, and only a deep cleaning from a dentist can get rid of it, in a process called Scaling and Root Planing.
In addition to keeping your smile free from harmful bacteria, the appointment also allow your dentist to take a closer look at the overall status of your oral health, checking for any early signs of development for various dental issues, such as gum disease or tooth decay. If your dentist finds any problems, they can work with you to create a plan for preventative treatment, so we can stop those issues from advancing to later, more harmful stages.
What Is Periodontal Disease?
Periodontal disease, more commonly known as gum disease, is a condition where bacteria builds up on the surface of the teeth that lies below the gumline. If these bacteria are not cleared away through a diligent at-home oral hygiene routine and regular visits to the dentist, the bacteria will form a thin film called plaque that will break down your tooth enamel and cause irritation and inflammation in your gums. In later stages, the plaque can lead to infection that will spread beyond your mouth and can start to negatively affect the rest of your body. The advancement of periodontal disease is typically split into two main stages: gingivitis and adult periodontitis.
Gingivitis
The first stage of periodontal disease is known as gingivitis, in which the bacteria that has built up on the teeth causes the tissue of the gums to become inflamed. Common symptoms for gingivitis is red, swollen, and bleeding gums. Gingivitis can be treated by simply removing the plaque that is present on the teeth under the gums with a professional cleaning from your dentist.
Adult Periodontitis
If gingivitis is left untreated for too long, it will advance to the next stage of gum disease, called adult periodontitis. In this stage, the patient is at risk of serious damage to their smile with symptoms including gum recession, bone loss in the jaw, and tooth loss. In advanced cases of periodontitis, patients are also at greater risk of developing other serious health problems including heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and complications during pregnancy. Other than allowing the buildup of bacteria and plaque on the teeth and gums to persist, there are other factors that have been linked to increased risk of developing periodontitis, which include:
- Smoking or tobacco use of any kind
- Hormonal fluctuations
- Chronic stress
- Bruxism (grinding or clenching)
- Poor nutrition
- Certain medications
- HIV or any immunosuppressive disease
- Hereditary factors
- Poor oral hygiene
Contact Your Dental Provider in Venice, FL
Whether you want to schedule your next appointment for a professional dental cleaning, or if you have any questions about your oral hygiene and the dangers of periodontal disease, contact your local Venice, FL oral health experts here at the dental office of Drs. Holbrook & Horak. We will do everything we can to ensure that your smile stays healthy for years to come, from providing you with guidance and information to the quality dental care that you deserve. We look forward to seeing you in our office soon!