The Primary Cause of Lost Teeth
Gum disease is your mouth’s worst enemy, destroying more teeth than tooth decay. And it can be completely unnoticeable right up until you lose your teeth. If you’re experiencing bleeding gums when you brush or floss, or loose and shifting teeth, you may have gum disease. However, with early detection and new treatment options, it’s possible to control gum disease with a variety of non-surgical methods from a dentist near you.
Gum Disease Can Contribute to Heart Disease and Even Stroke
Recent medical research has brought doctors to a startling conclusion: gum disease, stroke, and heart disease are linked. Since heart disease is usually fatal, this makes gum disease a huge problem. The American Dental Association estimates that 8 out of 10 Americans have periodontal (gum) disease. If this were any other affliction, such as AIDS or cancer, they’d treat it as an epidemic! However, while most dentists think it is an epidemic, they believed gum disease would never be labeled as such because “no one ever dies from it.” The worst is that you lose your teeth. Not pleasant – but certainly not life-threatening. But that’s all changed.
The American Academy of Periodontology reports that “Studies found periodontal infection may contribute to the development of heart disease, increase the risk of premature, underweight births, and pose a serious threat to people whose health is already compromised due to diabetes and respiratory diseases.” You see, the bacteria that characterize periodontal disease can cross into the bloodstream – straight to the heart.
Now the Good News
Advanced periodontal disease is treated with surgery, which is almost always successful in managing the condition, and it’s usually covered by common insurance plans. With mild periodontal disease, there are highly effective NON-surgical procedures that, combined with improved dental hygiene, can virtually halt the spread of the disease. These treatments are also usually covered under most dental insurance plans.
Why Worry About Gum Health in Tomball, TX?
So, is it a big deal to lose a tooth? Yes! The loss of even a single tooth, whether by accident, trauma, disease, or decay, can cause your other teeth to shift and move around. This will create problems with your chewing and your ability to absorb nutrients from your food. Because it’s harder to chew with missing teeth, you may find yourself favoring softer foods, more carbohydrates, which may cause you to gain weight. Your face may change shape and appear “sunken,” making you seem much older than you actually are. Even your speech may be altered. The ideal treatment to solve the problem of a missing tooth (or missing teeth) is with dental implants. An implant can replace one tooth or several. They will appear so natural that even a dentist will have to look hard to tell the difference.
Dr. Dave K. Dorroh, DDS, can help arrest your gum disease and bring your smile back to health. Give us a call today at 281-351-0039. Our dentist in Tomball, TX, welcomes patients from the surrounding areas of Spring, The Woodlands, Vintage Park, Magnolia, and 77070.