Tonight when you are brushing and flossing your teeth, take a close look at your gums. Specifically, watch for these symptoms:

  • Swollen gums
  • Red gums
  • Bleeding when you floss
  • Bleeding when your brush your teeth

All of these are early signs of gum disease. We wanted to share a friendly reminder about the importance of your oral care routine. After all, National Flossing Day is the day after Thanksgiving.

To treat or prevent periodontal problems, be proactive about your oral health. That should include regular visits to Cedar Dental Group soon. Call 425-970-8115 (Renton) 253-563-0315 (Kent) to make an appointment at our Renton, WA dental office.

Practice Preventive Care

Millions of Americans have gum infections. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that nearly half of all adults 30 years and older have periodontal disease. Many people are unaware that gum disease is the most common cause of tooth loss in the United States.

If you want to keep your healthy smile, you must take care of your gums, too.

Your daily hygiene routine is a good place to start. The American Dental Association advises everyone to brush their teeth twice daily for two minutes each time. Brushing removes harmful bacteria and plaque buildup from your teeth.

However, brushing is not a great way to clean the areas between your teeth or below your gumline.

Flossing can remove food particles, bacteria, and plaque from those parts of your mouth. Less than half of people floss daily, and many people reported that they never floss although the ADA recommends doing this daily.

Many people don’t like using dental floss. If you are one of them, you have other options that can be equally effective. Flossers and water flossers can make flossing easier and more comfortable.

Professional cleanings can take away plaque and tartar buildup. We’ll also conduct thorough exams during your routine visit. This gives us a chance to identify infections early

Treating Your Problems

Seek treatment as soon as you can if you do have infected gums. By nipping this problem in the bud, you can fix your problem with a less invasive and less costly solution.

As gum infections get worse, you might notice persistent bad breath, pimple-like bumps on your gums, and bleeding for no obvious reason. Your gums may begin receding, and eventually, your tooth will become loose as well.

To restore your oral health, we may take these steps:

  • Scaling – This is how we remove tartar and plaque from your teeth. This is similar to what we do during routine cleaning, but we go below the gumline to clean the roots of your teeth.
  • Root Planing – By smoothing the surface of your teeth, your gums have an easier time reattaching. This also makes it harder for harmful bacteria to bond to your teeth.
  • Arestin – This is an antibiotic that can kill the remaining bacteria, reducing your risk of reinfection.

Keep Your Smile In Good Shape

You can keep your gums and your mouth in good shape. We are here to help you maintain or restore your oral health. Practice good preventive care through your consistent dental care routine. Brush and floss every day. Schedule regular cleanings and exams at Cedar Dental Group, too.

Call now at 425-970-8115 (Renton) 253-563-0315 (Kent) , or contact us online to request your next appointment at our Renton, WA office.