Gum Disease: Destroyer of Smiles

Have you ever thrown a party, but had an uninvited guest show up and crash it? (And if you haven’t more power to you)

Gum disease is a lot like that, except that that uninvited guest is actually trying to tear down your home, piece by piece.

At first, you’ll notice a few things out of place: Hey, he’s not supposed to be here. Why is he moving my furniture around? Then, the difference will start to be problematic: Why is he taking down my curtains? And finally, you’ll look around and find out he’s brought his friends, and they’ve brought sledgehammers.

It is an extreme analogy to make a simple point: Just as nobody wants an uninvited guest and their wrecking crew buddies to come over for an evening of unplanned home demolition, you don’t want a case of gum disease to get comfortable within your smile, because once it’s there, it’s almost impossible to get out.

Yet there is one glaring and hugely important difference between my uninvited guest analogy and a case of rampant gum disease, and that is gum disease always gets an invitation, you just might not realize you sent it one.

That’s right: Gum disease is avoidable, and the only reason it can infect your smile is because of what you did to make your mouth such an inviting place for it.

I’m not trying to blame you, but you need to understand that if you’re suffering from gum disease (especially the early stages, which are also known as gingivitis), then the only reason you’re having to deal with it at all is because you have failed to keep you teeth and gums clean enough. And a clean mouth is no place for gum disease.

Conversely, the bacteria which causes gum disease love a dirty mouth. There’s just no better way of putting it, because the dirtier your mouth is, the more food there is. The more food there is – particularly sugars – then the more comfortable the bacteria will be to invite his friends and family over to move into his new digs.

The problem is that your smile is your digs, and if gum disease becomes sufficiently advanced, then it can cause way more problems than just bad breath (although that’s a symptom, too). Advanced gum disease – known as periodontitis – can cause your teeth to shift and fall out, and has been linked to numerous other health problems, including Alzheimer’s, stroke, heart disease, and more.

Your smile deserves better, and so do you.

How To Kick Gum Disease To The Curb

So you’ve decided you don’t want those terrible outcomes, but you’re not sure where to start.

I’d recommend calling your St. John dentist to set up a dental exam. That way, I can determine the exact nature of the gum disease, the extent of its invasion, and then determine which treatment option is the best.

For early cases of gum disease, a simple teeth cleaning is usually enough to remove the plaque on your teeth which can act as a “precursor” to full-blown gum disease. Combined with a solid commitment to brushing twice a day and flossing daily, we can evict gum disease in a short amount of time following one simple afternoon appointment.

If you have a more advanced case of gum disease, then you’re going to need some help. That’s because, after a certain point in its development, gum disease bacteria will actually burrow deeper into the gum line, and usually it’s much too deep for your toothbrush to reach.

That’s when you must give me a call so I can schedule you for what’s known as a root scaling and planing. It’s a scientific phrase which basically means I will use the equivalent of a mini pressure washer along with other instruments to flush out the bacterial colonies which have built up inside the pockets of gum tissue which have begun to pull away from your teeth.

You’ll be able to smile normally and without fear that it’s going to slip away from you!

An Appointment You Can’t Afford To Miss

You shouldn’t be a stranger in your own home, and you definitely shouldn’t be a stranger in your own smile. I can help you with my gum disease treatments, but only if you call while there’s still time.

If you live in St. John, please call me at 219-322-9920. If you’re reading this in Valparaiso, you can contact me at 219-462-1970.

To request an appointment with either of practices online, you can click this link to fill out a simple web form, and we’ll get back to you right away!