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How Poor Hygiene Makes You Vulnerable To Gum Disease

If you want to maintain a healthy smile, you need to focus on more than just preventing cavities. Many people experience problems with their smile and health over time because they fail to prevent difficulties with gum disease. In time, an infection can interfere with your work to manage your general health, and it can do damage to tissues that support teeth, leading to their loss. Our Seattle, WA dentist’s office will check on your periodontal health during every routine dental checkup you schedule with us. If we see evidence of gingivitis, we can provide a special cleaning to fight bacteria below your gum line responsible for your trouble.

Are You Doing A Good Job Fighting Oral Bacteria?

Your daily routine helps you preserve your smile by removing harmful bacteria that are responsible for tooth decay and gum disease. If you want to do a good job fighting the accumulation of these microbes on your smile, make sure that routine consists of both brushing and flossing. Brush your teeth at least two times a day for two minutes, and floss once a day. Thoroughness is important for both. If you are not cleaning at your gum line every day, you leave yourself open to the accumulation of bacteria at the base of your teeth that can move under these tissues and start causing problems.

How Gum Disease Can Affect You

At first, gingivitis will form if bacteria buildup below the gum line occurs. This condition can lead to the following:

  • Chronic bad breath
  • Sensitivity to bleeding every time you brush and floss
  • Swelling or periodontal discoloration
  • Trouble with gum line recession

If you do not act in time to address this condition, an infection can become a long-term problem. If this happens, you may experience problems with your general health when periodontal bacteria spread to other areas. You can also experience problems with tooth loss, as hard and soft tissues that hold teeth in place can become damaged.

Your Dentist’s Role In Protecting You Against Gingivitis

By performing a periodontal cleaning, or scaling and root planing, our practice can remove the bacteria that are already present below your gum line. The removal of these microbes will give your tissues the chance to successfully heal and be free of gingivitis. Regular cleanings that are provided at our practice also help, as they remove tartar concentrations that can cause gingivitis.

Talk To Your Seattle, WA Dentist’s Office About Gum Disease

Ballard Neighborhood Dentist is ready to help patients avoid difficulties with gum disease. A combination of professional preventive care and good habits at home will make gingivitis less likely to affect you, and also keep you safe from potential periodontal health complications. To learn more, please call our Seattle, WA dentist’s office at 206-789-2555.

Cosmetic, Restorative, and General Dentistry

It is our goal to provide comprehensive dental care for your whole family. Our wide range of services means that you can see us for all of your needs — without having to visit multiple practices to achieve the smile you’ve always wanted.