With Thanksgiving on the horizon to start the holiday season, we hope this is a happy and healthy time of year for you and your loved ones.
As such, we want to encourage you to do something that many people don’t enjoy, but which can make a big difference in your long-term or health. We hope you are flossing daily, and if you aren’t, then we urge you to start today.
National Flossing Day is the day after Thanksgiving, which also makes this a good time to remind you that we offer gum disease treatment at Accura Dental. We would prefer to help you prevent periodontal problems, but we are here to help if you need us.
Call 719-249-2854 to make your next dental appointment at our office in Colorado Springs, CO.
Take Control Of Your Gum Health
To keep your smile, you need to keep your teeth. To keep your teeth, you need to take care of your gums.
In the United States, gum disease causes more lost teeth than any other factor. There are things that increase your risk of periodontal problems that you can’t control, such as family history and hormonal changes. Nevertheless, you do control your own oral hygiene routine. By developing good and consistent habits, you greatly reduce your odds of developing gum problems or at least preventing the most severe consequences of this condition.
A good place to start is the American Dental Association’s recommendations:
- Get professional cleanings and exams
- Brush your teeth twice per day
- Floss daily
Most people do brush as part of their oral care routine, but flossing is a different story. In a recent survey conducted for the ADA, only 4 in 10 people said they floss daily. That means 60 percent of people do not floss as often as they should.
This also helps to explain why 70 percent or more of people will develop periodontal disease, and that’s based on the most conservative estimates by health experts.
Get Treatment When You Need It
In the early stages of a gum infection (gingivitis), your gums appear redder than usual and may feel swollen. You also might notice bleeding when you brush or floss, which are clues that you should be flossing more often or perhaps with better technique.
You should call us if you notice the symptoms of periodontitis, which include:
- Frequent bleeding of the gums
- Lingering bad taste in your mouth
- Sore or tender gums
- Receding gums
- Pimple-like bumps on your gum tissue
- Loose teeth
When you contact us, we can offer two levels of treatment. For many people, scaling and root planing is enough to get your mouth back in shape. This procedure removes tartar from the roots of your teeth where it irritates your gums and smooths the surface of your teeth so it’s harder for bacteria to bond there.
For more serious cases, we offer laser therapy. This is a less invasive way to remove infected gum tissue without the need for gum surgery. This also preserves more of your healthy tissue and allows you to heal faster.
See Us Soon
Whether you need to treat a gum infection or want to prevent one from developing, we hope you will brush, floss, and visit Accura Dental in Colorado Springs, CO. To request an appointment, fill out our online form or call 719-249-2854.