Manhattan Beach, CA dental care can help you prevent gum disease and stay healthy

Are you concerned about heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and generally poor health? If so, you’re probably eating better, exercising more, taking advice from your general physician, and wondering what else you can do to stay healthy. One possible answer that might surprise you: see your Manhattan Beach, CA dentist. Taking steps to maintain good oral health and prevent gum disease are not only good for your mouth, but also good for your entire body.

What is the oral systemic connection?

You’ve probably heard of the oral systemic connection and wondered exactly what it is. This team suggests that the mouth (oral cavity) and body (system) are connected. It’s not just a matter of physical structure, as in the mouth is literally part of the body. It is also a matter of health. Your oral health is part of, and connected to, your whole health in ways that science is just beginning to understand.

What is gum disease?

Gum disease begins with a mild, chronic infection along the gumline. Symptoms in the early stages are few. As the condition progresses, you might notice slight discoloration of the gum tissue, and probably a little bleeding when you brush your teeth. What you don’t see is the infection spreading ever deeper, damaging gum tissue, and eventually reaching the ligaments and bone that support teeth. Without treatment, teeth can gradually loosen and fall out, because their supporting structures are eroded.

Healthy mouth, healthy body

We have long known that gum disease and diabetes have a strong, two-way link. People who have either condition are more likely to have the other. Furthermore, controlling periodontal disease can help control diabetes, or vice versa.

In recent years, research has revealed a growing list of other health conditions that are linked with gum disease. Scientists have yet to unravel the exact nature of connection, determine if it is cause-and-effect, or discover the full scope. What we do know is that people with severe gum disease have higher rates of many, many other health problems.

Conditions that have been linked with gum disease include:

• Alzheimer’s disease
• Cognitive decline
• Coronary disease
• Cancer
• Complications in pregnancy or childbirth
• Pneumonia

Yes, you can prevent gum disease

Nearly half of American adults have gum disease, according to the center for disease control. That statistic is especially unfortunate, because most cases are entirely avoidable. The prevalence of gum disease can be attributed to a few different factors. First is lax oral hygiene and infrequent dental care, which allows plaque and tartar buildup. Most people don’t notice infection setting in, because the early symptoms are so mild. By the time notable symptoms such as loose teeth or abscesses develop, the disease is already in advanced stages.

Gum disease prevention is a team effort, requiring diligent home hygiene on your part, along with preventive treatment from your dentist and hygienist. This includes:

• Brushing –It only takes a few minutes to thoroughly clean all surfaces, with special attention to the gumline. The seconds you save when you rush are not worth the impact on your oral health.
• Flossing – Despite what many people believe, it’s not optional. A toothbrush can only access about two-thirds of the tooth surface. Floss the sides of every tooth, every day. Like brushing, be sure you clean all the way to the gumline.
• Mouth rinse – This is less essential than brushing and flossing, but it can be helpful. A good product may reduce the harmful oral bacteria by up to 20%.
• Healthy diet – Modern on-the-go, snack-powered lifestyles aren’t oral health friendly. Not only do many people eat too many sweets, but they also eat too few healthy foods. Opt for vitamin-rich and antioxidant-rich options, such as fruits and vegetables. Good nutrition boosts your immune system, which is your natural defense against gum disease.
• Dental check-ups – Sometimes the best of intentions and efforts are not enough to stop the onset of gum disease. Fortunately, it is easily reversed in the beginning stages. While you might not notice the ultra-subtle early warning signs, the trained eye of a dentist or hygienist will.
• Teeth cleaning – A skilled hygienist using specialized tools can remove hardened tartar and biofilm that a toothbrush and floss cannot. Additionally, cleaning is followed by polishing teeth, which makes it more difficult for plaque to adhere to the surface.

Here at Manhattan Beach Dental Solutions, we offer comprehensive preventive care, as well as treatments for gum disease. Just give us a call at 310-340-6663 to schedule an appointment. Better oral health starts here!

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