If you’re wondering how you can maintain your oral health in 2023, look no further than this guide from Chestnut Dental.
How Can I Maintain My Oral Health In 2023?
- Keep up your daily brushing and flossing routine.
- Visit your dentist twice a year for a professional cleaning and exam.
- Know and look out for signs of gum disease.
Why Is It Important To Brush And Floss Every Day?
Your daily habit of brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing once is one of the most effective ways to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. Brushing your teeth helps remove leftover food debris and plaque from the surface of teeth.
Plaque is a sticky film that forms on the surface of your teeth. Not only does plaque contain the bacteria that causes cavities and tooth decay, but when it isn’t removed by good oral hygiene habits, plaque hardens into tartar. Tartar buildup on teeth can cause inflammation of the gums and lead to gum disease.
Brushing and flossing can also prevent cavities. Cavities are small, permanent holes that form in teeth. When there is sugar left on the surface of teeth, it gets ingested by bacteria that produce acids as part of its digestive process. These acids can damage your tooth enamel and cause tooth decay.
Be sure to brush your teeth for at least two minutes in the morning and before bed, and floss after meals. Flossing is an excellent preventative care measure. In flossing, you can trap and lift out plaque and food debris in crevices that can’t be reached by brushing your teeth alone.
Why Is It Important To Visit Your Dentist Twice A Year?
Even if you don’t have a toothache, make sure to visit your dentist twice a year, or once every 6 months. Dentists not only solve oral health problems, they prevent them as well. Keeping your regular professional cleanings and dental check-up exams is one of the best ways to prevent serious issues or catch them early on.
Only a professional clean from a dentist can remove hardened tartar buildup below and above the gumline. Removing tartar buildup is crucial to preventing the progression of gingivitis into more serious periodontitis. Dentists are also able to spot a cavity in the early stages, before it progresses further into the tooth and the infection spreads. At Chestnut Dental, our experts are glad to offer state-of-the-art tooth-colored resin and porcelain fillings for cavities for natural-looking results.
What Are Potential Signs Of Gum Disease?
Gum disease, also known periodontitis, is an infection that harms gum tissue. If periodontitis goes untreated, the gum and bones can begin to retreat from teeth. As the disease continues to progress further, it can spread to the bones that support teeth and potentially result in tooth loss.
Gum disease is common and it’s important to take steps to prevent periodontitis. If you have any of the following symptoms, make an appointment with your dentist and let them know during a check-up exam:
- Swollen or puffy gums. This could be inflammation, resulting from plaque or tartar. This symptom may be a sign of gingivitis, an early stage of gum disease.
- Bleeding gums. Gums that bleed when you eat, brush your teeth, or floss may be another early sign of gingivitis.
- Receding gum line. This can also be indicative of gum disease. Another cause is from brushing your teeth with excessive force.
- Difficulty chewing. This is a serious symptom, as it may be the result of teeth loosening due to gum inflammation.
Untreated gum disease is one of the leading causes of tooth loss. If you have gum disease or other periodontal complications that are untreatable by your dentist, you may be referred to a periodontist, a doctor who specializes in treating gum disease. If you have periodontal concerns, schedule an appointment at our Franklin location with our in-house periodontal expert, Dr. Ramdev.
For all your dentistry needs, Chestnut Dental is proud to offer three locations to serve patients all over Massachusetts. With over 5 decades of experience refining the Chestnut Dental coordinated care model and offices open on Saturdays and during the evening, Chestnut Dental is ready for all your cosmetic, general, and restorative dentistry needs. If you are interested in improving your smile and self-esteem, get in touch with our experts in Bedford, Needham, or Franklin today.
