Can I Prevent Gum Disease?

If you’re worried about getting gum disease, we’ve got good news. Periodontal disease is preventable with good oral hygiene. Brushing your teeth and flossing after meals, using mouthwash, and visiting your dentist regularly will help you prevent periodontal disease and related side effects. Stick to the dental hygiene essentials and your happy and healthy gums will stick to you!

If you think you might be susceptible to gum disease, please be aware of its associated risk factors. Risk factors for periodontal disease include smoking, diabetes, genetic susceptibility, stress, grinding or clenching teeth, advanced age, certain medications affecting oral health, poor diet and obesity. Men have an increased chance of periodontal disease compared to women. Advanced plaque or tartar build-up increases susceptibility of developing periodontal disease.

Identifying periodontal disease can be difficult because some symptoms may not manifest in early stages. Be cautious if you notice any of the following: tender gums or painful teeth-brushing, bleeding gums, loosening teeth or a change in the alignment of your bite, receding gums or teeth that look longer than normal, or mouth sores or pus around the teeth and gums. If you think you may have gum disease, ask us to examine your gums and check your risk factors.

Periodontal disease occurs after bacteria forms too much plaque on teeth. When that plaque stays on teeth too long, it may harden and form tartar, which requires cleaning by a professional. Left untreated, tartar will hurt the soft tissue of the gums and decay and/or loosen teeth. Fortunately, Dr. Sam Markzar can clean and treat your gums in our office.

To prevent gum disease, you should have your teeth cleaned on a regular basis. Please visit us at Beverly Hills Periodontal Arts and Implants in Beverly Hills, California, for a teeth and gum cleaning soon. You can schedule an appointment with us now by calling 310-360-7570.