Your daily oral hygiene routine should consist of brushing your teeth twice each day and flossing at least once. This simple regimen is designed to remove plaque and other bacterial deposits before they can harden into tartar at the gum line.
If you are inconsistent with your oral hygiene practices, or you have a bad habit of procrastinating your routine dental checkup with Dr. Steven J. Brazis it could lead to periodontal health problems.
Early on gum disease problems often manifest in the form of gingivitis. This can cause your gums to look red or inflamed. Many people suffering from this level of periodontal infection will also notice that their gums bleed easily during daily brushing and flossing.
In many cases, the gum inflammation can be treated by a thorough cleaning procedure at Dr. Steven J. Brazis’s dental office. Improvements with your daily oral hygiene routine can then help prevent gum disease from recurring.
If gingivitis goes untreated, it could gradually escalate into the more severe form of gum disease known as periodontitis. This level of infection can cause your gums to recede from the base of your teeth.
As this starts to happen pockets of infection can start to build up deep within your gums near the roots of your teeth. Without treatment, periodontitis can even cause a loss of bone structure in your mouth.
Periodontitis can also cause system inflammation that can affect your immune system. New research has found that this can impact certain medical conditions including diabetes, heart disease, and certain types of cancer. While periodontal disease cannot cause these problems, it can influence symptoms and potential treatment options.
If you live in the Sacramento, California, area and you have periodontal health concerns, you should call 916-731-5151 to schedule a dental exam at Steven J. Brazis, DDS.
