We hope you have a great Thanksgiving with your loved ones. We hope you get to eat some great food, and we hope you enjoy the day after just as much.
Yes, National Flossing Day is a good time to remind you how important preventive care is for fighting periodontal disease and protecting your smile.
We offer gum disease treatments at our Laredo, TX dentist offices. However, we would prefer to help you avoid needing this service for as long as possible. We want you to maintain your healthy mouth for life.
That’s why we encourage you to brush, floss, and visit us for regular cleanings and exams. Call 956-242-6745 (Junction Drive) or 956-517-2695 (Winfield) to schedule your next appointment with us.
Brushing Isn’t Enough
The American Dental Association recommends brushing and flossing as part of your daily oral care habit. Specifically, you should brush your teeth for two minutes, twice per day. You should floss at least once daily.
You may be wondering why flossing is important if you are brushing your teeth already. Brushing is an effective way to remove harmful bacteria and plaque from the front and back of your teeth. It’s not as effective at removing those things from between your teeth and gums. When those areas aren’t cleaning, the plaque can harden into tartar. This can irritate your gum tissue and cause an infection to develop.
By using dental floss or another interdental cleaner, you are doing your part to reduce your risk of developing periodontal disease.
Watch For The Warning Signs
Health experts estimated that at least 70 percent of people will develop gum disease. Knowing this, we want to remind you of the symptoms of this condition. This will help you know when you seek professional help.
The early stage of periodontal disease is called gingivitis. Gums may appear red and swollen at this point. Compare that to healthy gums, which are pink and firm. When you have gingivitis, your gums may bleed when you brush or floss. That’s also a clue that you might not be flossing as often as you should. Sometimes, being more deliberate about flossing can reverse your symptoms.
If you do nothing or your symptoms persist, you are likely to develop periodontitis. This is an advanced form of gum disease, which calls for professional treatment. Its symptoms include:
- Bleeding easily
- Constant bad breath/bad taste in your mouth
- Pimple-like bumps on your gums
- Receding gums
- Loose teeth
- Sore or tender gums
You should schedule a dental appointment as soon as you can if you notice one or more of these symptoms. The sooner you take action to repair your smile, the sooner you can restore your oral health.
Keep Your Complete Smile
If you don’t like using dental floss, talk to us about other options when you schedule your next dental cleaning and exam. While you are here, we’ll let you know if we have any concerns about gum disease and what you should do about it if you do. If you are in or near Laredo, TX, we hope to see you soon at Davenport Dental Group. You can call 956-242-6745 (Junction Drive) or 956-517-2695 (Winfield) or contact us online to request an appointment.