Along with at-home oral care, regular oral hygiene visits is the best way to prevent gum disease and maintain oral health. Gum disease begins with accumulation of plaque around the teeth. Plaque is a soft and sticky deposit that contains harmful germs and bacteria. Plaque needs to be removed with effective brushing and flossing. If plaque is not removed it will harden into tartar, which will in turn harbour more harmful germs. Tartar can not be removed by regular tooth brushing, and requires professional hygiene care to be removed.
Accumulation of plaque and tartar can lead to dental cavities and gum disease. The early stage of gum disease is called gingivitis. The signs and symptoms of gingivitis include red, puffy and bleeding gums. Gingivitis is fully reversible, however if not treated, gingivitis will progress to a condition called periodontitis, where the bone and attachments around the teeth get destroyed irreversibly. Research shows that aside from causing damage to the bone around the teeth, the bacteria in the plaque deposits also cause damage to other parts of the body including the heart and the lungs. The problem with periodontitis is that it happens slowly and without pain until teeth become loose and painful. At the advanced stages of gum disease often there will be no options left but to have the teeth extracted.
The best way to treat periodontitis is to prevent it in the first place.
During your hygiene visit, the dentist and hygienist will fully exam your gums and teeth and will remove all the harmful plaque and tartar from the teeth surfaces.
After a professional clean and polish your will not only look and feel better, but teeth surfaces will be smoother and less likely to accumulate plaque.
You will also be provided with education on the best way to maintain your oral health.
If you have any questions about your oral health, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our knowledgeable team will be more than happy to answer your questions and concerns.
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