Your teeth are not the only parts of your smile at risk right now. Without routine homecare habits, your gums could develop serious oral health issues that could not only cause discomfort, but lead to tooth loss as well. In today’s blog, your Astoria, NY, dentist looks at what you can do from home to lower your risks of gum disease and periodontitis!
The Risks Your Gums Face
When we don’t provide proper care for our teeth and gums, this allows food particles to remain stuck on and between the teeth. Over time, bacteria will consume these particles. As they break them down, this elevates oral acidity and begins to coat the teeth in a sticky layer of plaque. Not only does plaque weaken enamel and lead to tooth decay, but the buildup could irritate the gum tissues and increase the risks of gingivitis and periodontal disease. Gingivitis could lead to sore gums that appear red and bleed easily. Unless reversed, this inflammation could then lead to gum disease, which is incurable and must be managed to avoid periodontitis, the advanced stage linked to adult tooth loss.
Preventive Actions
Typically, routine cleaning every six months allows our team to remove all buildup and protect smiles from periodontal disease. However, we’re currently only offering emergency care, so we cannot provide preventive treatments like cleanings. So, you need to clean your smile from home to control plaque buildup and protect your gum health. To start, be sure you’re brushing your teeth when you wake up and once more before going to bed. Each session should take about two minutes and make use of a fluoride toothpaste. You also need to floss up and down each side of every tooth, dipping briefly below the gum line when you do, to help remove trapped food particles beyond a toothbrush’s reach. We also suggest avoiding tobacco products as well.
Treatment Options and When to See Us
Routine care helps prevent gingivitis from becoming periodontal disease, and helps manage periodontal disease to avoid periodontitis. But when should you contact our office for treatment? Right now, we’re only treating dental emergencies to help slow the spread of COVID-19. However, if you have serious pain in your smile, or a damaged tooth, we can still offer treatment. If you do need treatment, our team will make sure you have the waiting room to yourself, and that all commonly touched surfaces are regularly cleaned and disinfected!
Do You Have Questions About Maintaining Good Periodontal Health?
We know that with better homecare comes a reduce risk of serious oral health issues that impact both your teeth and gums. To learn more about protecting your smile as a whole, then schedule a consultation, call Jeffrey Leibowitz, DDS, in Astoria, NY, today at 718-728-8320.
