Neglect Paves the Way to Periodontal Disease

Ontario dentists or any other dentist will assure patients of one certain fact: consistency is needed in dental hygiene. When a patient is in childhood cavities are the real concern but older patients are more at risk for periodontal disease. At either end of this continuum the precautions are the same: dental hygiene concerns and dietary concerns. Neglect of these matters will be rewarded with painful consequences.

There's no substitute for the basic concerns of proper brushing and flossing. But the crucial issue to watch for as far as symptoms are concerned is bleeding gums. If there is even a little bleeding during regular brushing or flossing it's a sign of at least gingivitis. This could develop into full blown periodontal disease if left untreated. At the first sign of this gum bleeding-see a dentist. Early treatment is crucial.

In addition to neglect of oral hygiene, smoking can fan the flames of gum disease. Several studies have indicated that smoking not only helps cause periodontal disease which can lead to tooth loss, it also slows healing after treatment.

Furthermore, periodontal disease can be a symptom of other diseases or related to still others. Obesity and diabetes are two diseases that are linked to periodontal disease but others are as well. There is a definite link between poor nutrition and the development of tooth decay and periodontal disease. Calcium as well as vitamins C, D and E are important in the diet but may also be helpful in supplemental form.

Gingivitis is a fairly mild condition. It can be treated by an ordinary dental hygienist. One of the most helpful methods in determining the severity of the problem is to test the pocket depth. This is the point to which a dental probe can be inserted next to the tooth before the gums bleed. If the dentist detects a more serious case with bone loss in the jawbone he or she will probably make a referral to a periodontist. This is a dental specialization that uses a number of advanced techniques to help prevent further damage.

Scaling and bone planing may be the basic course of treatment. Other cases might be treated surgically. There are some techniques that can reattach teeth that are in danger of being lost. Soft tissue grafting and regeneration of connective tissue are two possible procedures that may be used to treat periodontal disease.

Some studies indicate that dental lasers may be beneficial in the scaling and planing procedure. Lasers have been shown to prevent bleeding and kill bacteria and other micro-organisms which are definite advantages. There is still some fine tuning required in this approach before lasers are standard procedure for this treatment however.

But as any Ontario dentist will tell you: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. This is true with most health concerns but is extremely true with dental hygiene. Busy adults are the most likely to neglect basic brushing and flossing. This thorough cleaning needs to be accomplished once every 24 hours. The time it takes to perform regular hygiene is less than the time it will take to correct the problem if it develops.





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.		Neglect Paves the Way to Periodontal Disease Ontario dentists or any other dentist will assure patients of one certain fact: consistency is needed in dental hygiene. When a patient is in childhood cavities are the real concern but older patients are more at risk for periodontal disease. At either end of this continuum the precautions are the same: dental hygiene concerns and dietary concerns. Neglect of these matters will be rewarded with painful consequences. There's no substitute for the basic concerns of proper brushing and flossing. But the crucial issue to watch for as far as symptoms are concerned is bleeding gums. If there is even a little bleeding during regular brushing or flossing it's a sign of at least gingivitis. This could develop into full blown periodontal disease if left untreated. At the first sign of this gum bleeding-see a dentist. Early treatment is crucial. In addition to neglect of oral hygiene, smoking can fan the flames of gum disease. Several studies have indicated that smoking not only helps cause periodontal disease which can lead to tooth loss, it also slows healing after treatment. Furthermore, periodontal disease can be a symptom of other diseases or related to still others. Obesity and diabetes are two diseases that are linked to periodontal disease but others are as well. There is a definite link between poor nutrition and the development of tooth decay and periodontal disease. Calcium as well as vitamins C, D and E are important in the diet but may also be helpful in supplemental form. Gingivitis is a fairly mild condition. It can be treated by an ordinary dental hygienist. One of the most helpful methods in determining the severity of the problem is to test the pocket depth. This is the point to which a dental probe can be inserted next to the tooth before the gums bleed. If the dentist detects a more serious case with bone loss in the jawbone he or she will probably make a referral to a periodontist. This is a dental specialization that uses a number of advanced techniques to help prevent further damage. Scaling and bone planing may be the basic course of treatment. Other cases might be treated surgically. There are some techniques that can reattach teeth that are in danger of being lost. Soft tissue grafting and regeneration of connective tissue are two possible procedures that may be used to treat periodontal disease. Some studies indicate that dental lasers may be beneficial in the scaling and planing procedure. Lasers have been shown to prevent bleeding and kill bacteria and other micro-organisms which are definite advantages. There is still some fine tuning required in this approach before lasers are standard procedure for this treatment however. But as any Ontario dentist will tell you: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. This is true with most health concerns but is extremely true with dental hygiene. Busy adults are the most likely to neglect basic brushing and flossing. This thorough cleaning needs to be accomplished once every 24 hours. The time it takes to perform regular hygiene is less than the time it will take to correct the problem if it develops.
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