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Gingivitis, also called gum disease, is suffered by millions of people all over the United States. This early form of gum disease can be relatively mild – but it represents harmful bacteria beginning to colonize the gums through hard, sticky deposits of plaque on the teeth.

People can go months or even years with this stealthy disease without even noticing it. The longer there are undisturbed pockets of plaque on the teeth, the more likely it is bacteria will successfully attack and begin to colonize the soft tissue that holds the teeth in place.

The signs include:

• Mild redness in the gums – sometimes noticeable only on one “set” of gums;
• Occasional bleeding of the gums, typically at the same time you brush or floss your teeth.

How does gingivitis creep up on people?

Simply, it can be hard to tell if symptoms are directly related to gum disease. Bleeding of the gums can be caused accidentally by brushing too hard with a rough, older toothbrush even if your gums are healthy. The same can be true of mild, temporary gum irritation.

If you notice these symptoms for more than a day or two, it’s time to see a dentist!

Over time, gingivitis develops into periodontal disease – the form of the disease a general dentist usually means when talking about “gum disease.” During the advanced stage, the gums are eroded by the infection. If it goes untreated, it can permanently destroy bone. This leads to the loss of many teeth, and could result in a life-threatening systemic infection.

Your General Dentist Advises You on Gum Disease Prevention

Although many people do have gingivitis, it’s possible to halt the progress of the disease and even stop it for good through regular dental care. Some steps you should take to protect your gums include:

Brush Regularly

You should brush your teeth each morning, at night, and within about 30 minutes of every meal. Brushing disrupts the formation of biofilm, which ultimately hardens into plaque. Without plaque, gingivitis cannot spread and damage gums.

Floss as Much as You Can

Flossing is tough for many people. However, even doing it once in a while is better than not at all. If you’re not flossing yet, start by doing it once a week. Using a hand-held “floss wand” or a water flosser can make the process faster, easier, and more effective.

Massage the Gums

Your gums provide a constant supply of blood to your teeth. Even if you don’t have time to sit down and brush, spending two minutes gently massaging the gums with a soft, manual brush can help keep gums strong and resistant to infection.

Maintain the Mouth’s pH Balance

Your mouth naturally fights off infection through its production of saliva. If you suffer from dry mouth, be sure to see a general dentist as soon as you can to get to the root of the problem. Sugar-free gum can help promote saliva production.

For help from a trusted general dentist, contact Landmark Dental Group.

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You already know that you should brush your teeth every day and floss as often as you can. But, even if you do everything right, you should still visit a dentist Santa Cruz trusts – at least once every year. If you can’t remember the last time you got a professional teeth cleaning, it’s probably time!

How Often Do You Need to Get Your Teeth Cleaned Professionally?

With all the hectic things that happen in life, it’s easy to forget about your dental appointment – or put it off until later. Still, you shouldn’t delay too long: Dental problems can develop between cleanings that you might not be able to spot yourself.

The average adult should plan for a cleaning at least once a year. It’s often a good idea to get two cleanings each year, though. And some people should consider visiting the dentist even more frequently under special circumstances. Additionally, some people may benefit from scaling and root planing, also known as “deep cleaning,” if it has been many years since their last cleaning and there is significant buildup on teeth.

Pencil in an appointment with your dentist if any of these apply to you:

You Have a Known Dental Health Complaint

If you’ve recently had severe tooth decay, gum disease, or another dental problem, you should schedule regular follow-ups with your dentist until the problem has completely disappeared. That may mean quarterly cleanings for a year to make sure everything is as it should be.

Your Child is Getting His or Her Permanent Teeth

Young children who are in the process of getting their permanent teeth should see the dentist more regularly, too – especially if they’ve experienced decay in their “baby teeth.” It’s important to monitor the development of permanent teeth closely to ensure they erupt on time.

If teeth are late to grow in or become crooked or crowded, the best way to reduce complications is to get treatment as soon as possible. That usually means visiting the dentist every few months as more teeth emerge. A cleaning can be performed once they’ve all arrived.

You Are an Elder Concerned About Your Teeth

Getting a regular dental cleaning can help you protect your teeth well into the golden years. While it is not uncommon for people to lose a tooth with age and normal wear and tear, this can often be prevented.

People over the age of 50 should be especially careful about seeing the dentist whenever they experience a tooth complaint. Soreness or bleeding in the gums, or sensitivity in any of the teeth, can mean that you need a new filling or tooth extraction.

In many cases, a cleaning is performed before any of these procedures to reduce complications.

Landmark Dental Group: The Dentists Santa Cruz Patients Can Rely On

Maintaining your dental health requires a daily commitment. It can be hard work, but you don’t have to do it alone! If you want professional service from the dentist Santa Cruz patients turn to, visit Landmark Dental Group. We’re always glad to help you.

To find out more or to schedule your dental cleaning, contact us soon.

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Next to brushing, flossing is the most important thing you can do to protect your teeth. While brushing works to remove biofilm from the teeth – keeping it from hardening into dental plaque – flossing protects the spaces between your teeth. They’re just as important!

As a family dental practice, the team at Landmark Dental Group hears a lot of questions about flossing. It’s easy to get confused about flossing, because there’s a lot of incorrect information out there. Not to worry … let’s get the facts about flossing!

When It Comes to Great Dental Health, Flossing is Worth the Effort

Ideally, you should floss at least once a day – in the evening, after dinner. Of course, many people floss only occasionally. Researchers estimate that about 27% of adults lie about flossing. Of course, the number may be even higher. Up to 33% of Americans never floss at all.

So, what’s the big deal about flossing? It’s more important than you might think!

Flossing protects you from invading bacteria that feed on food particles between teeth. Just like the front and top surfaces of teeth, these hidden surfaces can be subject to decay or cavities. If you don’t floss, bacteria can fester in hard-to-reach areas for days or even weeks at a time.

Flossing has a number of other important benefits:

• It helps safeguard against inflammation that can damage gums and cause them to recede;
• It works to promote better blood flow in the gums, which promotes overall dental health;
• It keeps you more engaged in dental health, so you’ll remember to brush more frequently.

Want to Enjoy the Benefits of Flossing? Try Making it Easier

At our family dental practice, we’ve heard everything you can imagine about why flossing can be difficult, annoying, or boring. Guess what? We understand completely! Flossing can sometimes be inconvenient, and might even cause little aggravations like temporary bleeding of the gums.

Still, flossing even two or three times a week is better than skipping it!

To make flossing into a habit you can stick with, consider these methods:

• Try dental picks to dislodge larger food particles from between teeth before brushing;
• Use floss attached to a convenient handle to more easily access difficult-to-reach areas;
• Try using a water flosser, which uses a gentle jet of water to clean between the teeth;
• Commit to one minute of uninterrupted flossing each time you finish brushing teeth.

Your Family Dental Practice Can Advise You on Flossing

If you feel uncomfortable with flossing, you’re not alone. Still, the best way to protect your mouth now and in the future is to find the approach to flossing that works for you. At Landmark Dental Group, we can help you reduce discomfort and achieve great results with flossing.

At Landmark Dental Group of Santa Cruz, we work with patients of all ages and needs as a true family dental practice. Don’t wait: Contact us today for more information or to set your appointment. We look forward to seeing you!