Gum disease does awful things to your mouth. In its early stages, it causes bleeding gums and bad breath. Left untreated, it leads to bone and tooth loss. In advanced cases of the disease, the bacteria that cause it can get into your bloodstream and travel to other parts of your body.
Not surprisingly, this can lead to some pretty serious health consequences. Notably, the inflammation that results can cause or worsen coronary disease. This video by the British Heart Foundation does a good job of explaining this. The bacteria can also result in endocarditis, a serious infection that harms the inner lining of the heart.
You can stop gum disease before it starts by taking good care of your teeth and gums. That means twice-daily brushing, for two minutes each time, and flossing once a day too. In addition, see us every six months for an exam and cleaning. We’ll get rid of all the bacteria that has managed to escape your brush and floss.
If we see any early signs of disease, our dentists will eliminate it with a deep cleaning treatment called scaling and root planing. This will prevent serious damage to your oral health and your overall health.
Call us today at 406-565-4458 to schedule your next exam and cleaning in Butte, MT. If you notice any signs of gum disease, like bleeding gums or bad breath that won’t go away, get ahold of us right away.