Learn more about Scaling and Root Planing to remove tartar and plaque below the gum line
Plaque is a sticky, colorless deposit of bacteria that is constantly forming on the tooth surface. Saliva, food and fluids combine to produce these deposits that collect where the teeth and gums meet. Plaque buildup is the primary factor in periodontal (gum) disease, including gingivitis.
How to Get Rid of Plaque
To help prevent plaque buildup, be sure to brush your teeth at least twice a day with an anti-plaque toothpaste such as Crest Pro-Health Toothpaste for around the clock protection against plaque buildup, and floss once a day.
Adding a mouth rinse such as Crest Pro-Health Multi-Protection Rinse to your routine can help against plaque buildup, without the burning sensation of alcohol. Eating well-balanced meals and brushing after snacks will reduce the formation of plaque. Visit your dental office regularly for oral exams and cleanings, during which your dental professional will scrape away any accumulated plaque with a special instrument.
Above article from: Crest.com
Dental Group of Meriden-Wallingford
298 Broad Street
Meriden, CT 06450
Phone: (203) 235-5588
DentalGroupCT.com
Painless Protection from Tooth
Loss
Decay is – surprisingly to some people – not the main reason for
tooth loss. In truth, periodontal disease, also known as gum
disease, is the main culprit. Our office is pleased to offer
ARESTIN™ to our patients. This powerful weapon against gum
disease comes in powder form, containing microspheres that are
so small they can’t be seen by the naked eye. These microspheres
deliver a time-released antibiotic directly to the spaces
between the gums and teeth, where the bacterial infection that
causes gum disease festers. ARESTIN kills this bacteria, saving
your teeth without pain!
Dental Group of Meriden-Wallingford
298 Broad Street
Meriden, CT 06450
Phone: (203) 235-5588
DentalGroupCT.com
Gum
Disease Can Mean Lost Teeth
Often tooth loss is due to gum disease. Gum disease can be
completely painless in the early stages. Symptoms include
bleeding gums when you brush or floss and loose or shifting
teeth. If you’ve been told you need gum surgery, you will be
glad to know that it’s possible to control gum disease with a
variety of non-surgical methods.
Gum Disease Can Contribute to
Heart Disease and
Even Stroke
The statistics are staggering. The American Dental Association
estimates that 8 out of 10 Americans have periodontal (gum)
disease. At that rate, afflictions such as AIDS or tuberculosis
would be considered epidemic. Most dentists do, in fact,
consider gum disease at an epidemic level. But the biggest
consequence was believed to be lost teeth. Hardly pleasant, but
not life threatening. Or is it? Recent medical research has
linked gum disease, stroke, and heart disease. Since heart
disease can be fatal, gum disease is obviously a serious matter.
The American Academy of Periodontology reports: “studies found
periodontal infection may contribute to the development of heart
disease, increase the risk of premature, underweight births, and
pose a serious threat to people whose health is already
compromised due to diabetes and respiratory diseases.”
Periodontal disease is characterized by bacterial infection of
the gums. These bacteria can travel into the bloodstream –
straight to the heart.
The
Truth about Losing a Tooth
Even though losing a tooth isn’t directly life threatening, a
single missing tooth can still cause many problems. The other
teeth try to fill in the gaps, which can mean tilting and poor
alignment. This interferes with chewing and your ability to
absorb nutrients from your food. For some patients, the change
in appearance can be even worse. With no teeth to support your
face, it can gain a sunken look and make you look older. It can
make talking difficult, and the inability to chew in those
spaces can cause you to favor softer foods and more
carbohydrates, often leading to weight gain.
So Let’s Hold on to Those
Teeth
With gingivitis and mild periodontal disease several highly
effective non-surgical procedures can virtually halt the spread
of the disease. It starts with prevention and the best oral
hygiene. Our team of hygienists at the Dental Group of
Meriden-Wallingford will work with our patients and their
periodontal issues. Deep cleaning includes scaling and root
planing, procedures that remove plaque and tartar at and below
the gumline. Patients who need it are also given
ARESTIN™, an antibiotic that is delivered directly to the
pockets in the gums, where it can kill the bacteria that causes
gum disease.
Dental Group of Meriden-Wallingford
298 Broad Street
Meriden, CT 06450
Phone: (203) 235-5588
DentalGroupCT.com
