Gum Disease Facts: Maintaining Healthy Teeth in Edmonton
Hi, and welcome back to The Tooth Doctor YouTube channel. We’re so glad that you’ve joined us. This is Dr. Peter Yoo from The Tooth Doctor, and today we’re going to be talking about gum disease facts and how to maintain a healthy mouth in Edmonton. Martin H. Fischer has said that if a patient cannot clean his teeth, no dentist can clean them for him.
The CDC says that periodontal disease increases with age and that just over 70% of adults aged 65 and older have periodontal disease. Gum disease is one of the biggest threats to maintaining optimum oral health, but with proper oral hygiene and regular visits to the dentist, it can be prevented.
What is Gum Disease?
Basically, gum disease is when you have plaque and tartar on your teeth. It’s like having a sliver in your skin—your body doesn’t like it and tries to get rid of it. Similarly, when there’s plaque and tartar around your gums, your body tries to fight it off. Unfortunately, this can lead to your body attacking your own gums, making them sensitive, causing them to bleed, and making them hurt when you brush. This is why regular care is essential for maintaining healthy teeth in Edmonton.
What Causes Periodontal Disease?
Periodontal disease is different from gum disease. While gum disease affects the pink tissue you see (your gums), periodontal disease affects the bone that supports your teeth. Plaque and tartar damage the gums, opening them up like a Ziploc seal, which allows bacteria to get close to the bone. When bacteria reach the bone, your body tries to fight it off, but ends up damaging the bone instead. This is how periodontal disease starts, which can significantly impact healthy teeth in Edmonton.
Symptoms and Dangers of Periodontal Disease
Symptoms of gum disease include bleeding gums, swelling, and redness. The biggest danger of periodontal disease is that you can lose your teeth, jeopardizing your goal of having healthy teeth in Edmonton. Without good support, teeth can shift, loosen, and even fall out. Periodontal disease is also linked to other health concerns like heart disease and diabetes because your mouth is a gateway to the rest of your body. Keeping your teeth, gums and mouth healthy is so important!
Who is Susceptible to Gum Disease and How Does It Affect Your Oral Health?
Everyone is susceptible to gum disease, especially if you eat food. The types of food you eat, your nutrition, and how well you clean your teeth all play a role. Sticky foods that get stuck between your teeth increase the likelihood of gum disease. Most importantly, brushing twice a day for two minutes each time is crucial to prevent gum disease.
Can Gum Disease Be Prevented or Reversed?
Brushing twice a day is important because bacteria mature quickly—within 24 hours. If you only brush once a day, you increase your risk of gum disease and cavities, which can compromise your oral health. Surgery isn’t always necessary for gum disease. In some cases, non-invasive treatments like deep cleaning and scaling can help. Dr. Yoo shares a story of a patient with a loose tooth who avoided extraction with proper care, and the tooth became solid again. This type of care is essential for maintaining clean teeth and healthy gums.
Reversing Periodontal Disease to Achieve Healthy Teeth in Edmonton
There are cases where periodontal disease can be reversed with diligent care, helping patients maintain healthy teeth in Alberta. Dr. Yoo shares a story about a patient who had many loose teeth and was advised to get dentures. However, by visiting a specialist and getting her teeth cleaned every three months, she was able to save all her teeth. This was a dental miracle, showing that with the right care, periodontal disease can be managed, for optimum oral hygiene.
Final Thoughts on Healthy Mouths
At The Tooth Doctor, our focus is on saving as many teeth as possible, for as long as possible, and at the lowest cost possible, to help you achieve healthy teeth. Thank you for joining us today and for learning about gum disease, periodontal disease, and how to maintain great oral hygiene. Don’t forget to subscribe to The Tooth Doctor channel, leave a comment, or give us a like. Miracles do happen, and with proper dental care, you can make a big difference in your journey to healthy teeth in Edmonton. Thanks for watching—bye!