For many individuals, a healthy smile means more than just a bright appearance. It also means optimal function and adequate oral health. Indeed, a number of threats can impact one’s grin, whether cosmetically or functionally, and taking the steps necessary to ensure its well-being is crucial. In today’s blog, your Conroe, TX dentist will take a look at periodontitis – a common infection also known as gum disease – and how it impacts your oral health.

Identifying Concerns in Your Checkup

Periodontitis is a very common phenomenon, affecting roughly 3 million American adults every year. It consists of harmful bacteria nestling below the gum line and targeting the roots of your teeth. Some common side effects can include bleeding or swollen gums, structures separating from their respective tissues, and even falling out teeth. Without proper treatment, many individuals experience significant loss and difficulty in function, which is why it is better to act sooner rather than later if you suspect you may be experiencing a form of periodontitis. Fortunately, that is where our team can come in to help.

Your routine six-month checkup and cleaning consists of more than just a cavity – it is an inspection of your oral health. This process includes examining the mouth, teeth, tissues, and other structures for signs of potential concerns and ensuring minor problems do not turn into major problems. During your dental exam, we will carefully inspect the gums and teeth in order to identify signs of infection. From here, we will create a treatment plan with you to manage the concerns. For more information about this process or to schedule your next visit, call our office today.

Your Role in Prevention

In addition to the assistance a checkup can provide, there are steps you can take at-home as well to ensure a healthy smile. Everyone knows that brushing your teeth regularly is an important step to achieving a great grin, but many are unaware that flossing is just as important.

Flossing allows the ability to remove lodged food particles from in-between structures. Without a method to accomplish this, the oral bacteria will continue to be drawn to and teem the gums, catalyzing an infection.

Seeking Additional Treatment

In some situations, progression of infection can occur at an alarming rate and may not receive treatment until damage has already begun to set in. In cases such as these, your dentist may be able to provide what is known as a deep periodontal cleaning. This process involves working beneath the gum line to remove deposits of plaque and tartar, then subsequently polishing and smoothing the surfaces of the roots to make bacterial attachment in the future more difficult.

Schedule Your Appointment

Contact The Dental Centre of Conroe in Conroe, TX by calling 936-441-4600 today to learn more about the steps you can take to address gum disease, and how our team can help.