Saskatoon Dental Group is a locally owned, full-scale Saskatoon dental clinic offering general dentistry services. At Saskatoon Dental Group, we are dedicated to offering excellent care to our amazing patients who are like family to us. We are grateful to treat whole families in Saskatoon across multiple generations, and have a mulicultural team speaking multiple languages. In our latest dental tip we share information on gum disease as February is Gum Disease Awareness month.
February Is Gum Disease Awareness Month
February is designated Gum Disease Awareness Month to raise awareness of it’s causes, and encourage better oral health habits to prevent it. Read on to learn about gum disease and ways to help protect those pearly whites from damage.
What Is Gum Disease?
Gum Disease, scientifically referred to as Periodontitis, is an infection resulting from inflammation of the gums and bone that support the teeth. In the early stages, gums are swollen, red, and inflamed. This is called gingivitis. If left untreated, gingivitis progresses into periodontitis. Periodontitis is more serious as the gums begin to pull away from the teeth. As a result, bone can be lost, causing teeth to loosen and fall out.
Periodontitis is a huge threat to oral health. According to a recent CDC report:
- 47.2% of adults in the U.S aged 30 years or older have some form of periodontal disease
- Periodontal disease also increases with age; 70.1% of adults 65 years and older have periodontal disease.
- In addition, the disease is more common in men than women (56.4% vs. 38.4%), those living below the federal poverty level (65.4%), those with less than a high school
What Causes Gum Disease?
Gum Disease or Periodontitis occurs when bacteria infect the tissue surrounding the teeth. These bacteria cause inflammation. When bacteria remain on the teeth, they form a build-up called plaque. Eventually, plaque hardens into tartar. Tartar build-up spreads below the gums, making teeth harder to clean. Once plaque build-up has progressed to tartar build-up, only a dental professional is able to remove the tartar and to protect periodontitis from developing.
How Can You Prevent Gum Disease?
The best way to help protect your teeth from Periodontitis is by controlling gingivitis. This is done through a good oral hygiene routine. Although more severe forms of Periodontitis can be treated, the treatments are quite extensive. Treatments include deep cleaning of the root surfaces below the gums, certain mediations placed directly under the gums, or even corrective surgery.
To prevent and control periodontal diseases it is important to brush and floss at least once a day to remove bacteria. It is also vital to see a dentist at least once a year for a check-up. Perhaps more frequently if you notice signs of bleeding and inflammation in the gums.
Overall, gum disease is a dangerous oral health problem. Education, paired with regular check-ups and cleanings is your best defense against gum disease and other oral health issues.
Remember that good oral health habits start at home and we encourage you to visit us once a year for a full checkup and examination. Oral health is closely tied to your overall health and wellness and often we can identify issues before they become problems.
We are always welcoming patients looking for a new dental family. If you would like to book a checkup or if you have any dental questions please do not hesitate to reach out to our team.
See you soon!
The Saskatoon Dental Group Team
