If you aren’t seeing your dentist at least twice a year you may be placing your teeth and gum’s in jeopardy. You may also be placing your health in jeopardy as well. Even if you brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss after each meal, you may not be getting all of the food and plaque that can build up between your teeth. That build up can provide the perfect environment for tartar and decay to begin. In fact, tartar actually forms from plaque that is not removed from the surface of your teeth.
Tartar is the hard white substance that you can find on your tooth at the gum line. It can also begin to form deposits below the gum line as well. Eventually the deposits will begin to eat away at the enamel of your teeth. Tartar buildup can also lead to gum disease, which is the one of the leading causes of premature tooth loss in adults. Tartar cannot be removed by normal brushing or flossing. Your dentist will need to remove it during dental cleanings. In most cases it will need to be scarped off of your teeth.
If you begin to develop red swollen gum’s, or your gum’s bleed during brushing or flossing, you will need to contact your dentist as soon as possible. You may be developing gum disease. The earliest form of gum disease is called gingivitis. Your dental office in Baltimore can treat gingivitis with professional cleanings. It is important that you have gingivitis treated promptly and thoroughly as gingivitis can turn into periodontitis.
Periodontitis is a form of gum disease that can lead to tooth loss, bone deterioration, and other more serious health problems such as heart attacks and strokes. Periodontitis can be treated with deep dental cleanings, and medicated mouth washes, such as chlorhexidine. During a deep cleaning your dentist will scrape the tartar and tooth decay off of your teeth and below the gum line. The dentist will then smooth away any rough edges using a technique known as planing. Your dentist will also clean the periodontal sac to remove bacteria and debris.
With proper care by a Dental Office in Baltimore you can keep your teeth and gum’s healthy for a very long time. You should see your dentist at least twice a year to prevent serious damage.
