In celebration of National Men’s Health Month and Father’s Day, Dr. Greenberg is hoping to educate all North Tonawanda, NY men and their loved ones about the dangers of periodontal disease. This condition is sadly underdiagnosed and could affect as much as half the population. Worse, most people have no idea that they have it. Even if you have read our gum disease page, there may be more that you don’t know about how this condition affects you and why it is important to both your overall health and the health of your mouth.
1. Gum disease is the number one cause of tooth loss.
Periodontal disease causes your gums to recede, loosening your teeth and, if untreated, eventually causing them to fall out. If this has happened to you, the good news is that dental implants can now be used to replace any teeth you are missing. The better news is that this can often be prevented by a proper oral hygiene.
2. Periodontal disease can lead to heart disease.
If the bacteria that contribute to plaque and gum disease enter your bloodstream through bleeding gums, they can travel to your heart and cause blood clots. This can quickly become a serious condition for any man in North Tonawanda, NY, and should not be left untreated.
3. Bleeding gums are not okay.
Some people think that it’s normal if your gums bleed while brushing or flossing. It’s not. This is a leading symptom of periodontal disease and should be looked at by Dr. Greenberg. Compare your gum tissue to the skin on the back of your hand. If your hand bled every time you touched it, would you just let it go?
4. That bad taste in your mouth could be gum disease.
Periodontal disease causes pockets of puss to develop in your gum tissue, probably in places where you can’t see it or are not even aware it is there. When the infection leaks out into your mouth it creates a bad taste for you to deal with as well as bad breath for everyone else to endure. And puss is just simply never a good thing.
5. Gum disease is often painless.
Many people don’t know they have periodontal disease because they expect it to be painful or have some obvious outward sign. The best way to know if you are suffering from this condition is to come in for regular appointments with Dr. Greenberg.
6. Tobacco use may be one of the most significant risk factors for gum disease.
Add periodontal disease to the long list of conditions that smoking can cause, along with cancer, heart disease, strokes, and low birth weight infants. If you are a smoker, you need to make sure you keep your twice yearly appointments, and possibly come in more to keep an eye out for signs of gum disease as well as oral cancer.
7. Even if you do everything right, you could still be at risk for gum disease.
Research now shows that up to 30% of the population may be genetically susceptible to periodontal disease. The good news is that early detection and intervention can save you from losing your teeth.
8. Flossing can greatly reduce your chance of developing gum disease.
Flossing as part of your daily oral hygiene routine helps keep your gums healthy and disease free, and emerging studies show that it may actually be able to prevent the spread of disease.
9. Treating gum disease may help increase your energy level.
Periodontal disease is an infection just like many others, and it requires a lot of work from your body’s cells to fight off. Once you help your body get rid of the offending bacteria, you will have more energy left over for much more fun activities.
10. Dr. Greenberg can treat your periodontal disease.
He can help fix your bleeding gums, swollen gums, receding gums, loose teeth, missing teeth, and any other problems you may have associated with your gum disease. All you have to do is make an appointment today!
For more information about gum disease, contact Dr. Greenberg, your North Tonawanda dentist at North Tonawanda Family Dentistry today.