Without Healthy Gums, Your Smile Won't Last!

According to a study published in 2012 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly a majority of American adults (30 years of age and older) have some level of gum disease. Between 2009 and 2010, estimates reached 47.2 percent, which equates to nearly 65 million people having mild, moderate, or severe periodontitis, another term for gum disease.

If you want to keep your teeth for life, you need to take good care of your gums. Healthy teeth are irrelevant if your gums can’t hold them in properly, and the number one cause of tooth loss is gum disease. Even worse, once gum disease appears, it’s far more difficult to restore. Luckily, preventing gum disease is simple with regular brushing, flossing, and visits to your dentist.

In the event that gum disease does appear, your dental team at Blue Coast Dental is prepared to help get your oral health back on track!

If a patient has gum disease or a higher risk of developing gum disease, we typically have them come in more often than the average patient. Instead of coming in every 6 months, you may need to come in every 3 to 4 months to manage your gum disease. During these appointments, your dentist will perform gum disease therapy, which typically includes scaling and root planing.

To help your gum tissue begin regenerating, your hygienist cleans underneath the tissue to remove plaque buildup and smooths out the tooth roots beneath the gums. According to your periodontist, cleaning plaque from underneath the gums is just as important as cleaning above them, so it’s essential you stay committed at home.

If gum disease is particularly serious, we can also perform gum grafts before tooth loss occurs.