Periodontitis Causes Tooth Loss

No one wants to lose a tooth as an adult. You typically only have one set of adult teeth, so once they’re gone, you don’t have a backup. While there are a number of helpful, modern dental restorations for missing teeth, you’d prefer to avoid the situation altogether. The best way to do that is to take care of your teeth with a great home care routine and regular dentist visits. Tooth decay will wear away at a tooth, sometimes until the only thing you can do is have it removed. However, you can’t place all of your focus on the surfaces of your teeth. While brushing these areas is important, your gum line presents a crucial area as well. Bacteria can aggregate around and underneath your gum line, just as they would on your teeth. When you fail to rid these spaces of bacteria, you’ll develop infection, which leads to gum disease, and eventually, periodontitis.

Periodontitis Is the Result of Untreated Gingivitis

The good news is, gum disease doesn’t happen overnight. You have a chance to circumvent this problem by flossing and brushing around the gum line. When you fail to clean these areas, infection causes inflammation. Prolonged inflammation leads to gingivitis — the first stage of gum disease. Your dentist can treat gingivitis to reverse the condition, but you need to seek help. If you don’t treat your gingivitis, it can worsen until you develop periodontitis — an irreversible, late-stage gum disease.

Periodontitis Causes a Weakening of the Jaw Bone, Which Can Lead to Tooth Loss

With consistent deep cleaning, your dentist can help stem the effects of periodontitis, but it’s a condition you’ll have to address for the rest of your life. Periodontitis causes a loss of integrity in your jaw bone. This deterioration can cause a loosening of the support for your tooth in the area. Your tooth may eventually fall out because of this condition. The best way to avoid periodontitis is by thoroughly brushing and flossing around the gum line, and by seeing your dentist regularly.

Visit Greenhaven Family Dental for Regular Checkups and Treatment

Whether you believe you may be developing gingivitis, or you simply need a routine checkup and cleaning, Greenhaven is here to help. Dr. Roberts and the friendly staff at Greenhaven provide a full range of dental services and can help you stay in front of oral health issues. To make an appointment at Greenhaven Family Dental in Baxter, MN contact the office at 218-454-0523 today.