Prevent Serious Consequences

Even though they’re all grown up adults are not immune to tooth decay. Statistics show, however, that adults are much more likely to suffer from gum disease and some will even lose teeth because of it.

Prevention, that’s the key to avoiding the advanced stages of gum disease and it has to begin at the first stage. Gum disease in its mildest form is known as gingivitis and presents with redness and swelling of the gum tissue around the bottom of the teeth. It’s caused by a buildup of the bacterial plaque that forms daily over the surface of your teeth and the only way to keep that from happening is to brush and floss every day and see your dental hygienist every six months for a professional cleaning.

Poor nutrition is another common cause of gum disease. Dentists agree that the foods and drinks that their patients consume on a regular basis do influence their oral health. If you can cut out unhealthy snack foods and carbonated soda from your family’s diet and replace those items with fresh fruit slices and fluoridated drinking water you will be taking a big first step toward improving the results of everyone’s next dental checkup.

If you see your dentist regularly he will be able to identify the early symptoms of gingivitis. Work with the doctors at Belleview Dental Associates to formulate your own personal plan for the prevention of gum disease. Call today.