Together, We Can Prevent Gum Disease in The Woodlands

As we wrap up our three-blog series on gum disease, let’s take a moment to recap what we’ve discussed. You know what gum disease is. You know what symptoms to look out for. You know that it can cause greater health problems and affect your overall well-being. Now all of us at Shirley E. Cagle, DDS, FAGD in The Woodlands want to make sure you know how, together, we can prevent gum disease.

Pairing good dental habits at home with regularly scheduled dental appointments can help maintain a healthy mouth and prevent gum disease from ever occurring. Visiting your dentist in The Woodlands at least twice a year for exams and cleanings can help keep you healthy and can also help catch any potential problems before they have a chance to progress and affect the rest of your body.

In between your dental checkups, it’s important to practice good dental habits at home to ensure a clean mouth, healthy gums, and health body. Brushing your teeth at least 2-3 times a day and flossing in between your teeth and below the gum line once a day are easy and effective ways to help remove any plaque and bacteria that can cause gum disease. If you can’t brush, chewing sugar-free gum with xylitol can also help.

In addition to these simple yet very effective habits, other lifestyle factors can also help keep gum disease at bay.

●      Eat a healthy diet and limit your intake of sugar

●      Avoid bedtime snacks

●      Stop smoking - people who use tobacco are six times more likely to develop gum disease and are less responsive to treatment than those who don’t

If you’re due for a dental cleaning and checkup, or if you’re concerned about your gum health, contact our The Woodlands dental office at 855-251-4554 to schedule an appointment today and we’ll work together to prevent gum disease. If we do happen to find active gum disease, don’t worry. It’s often easily treated. And if we catch it early, it’s even easier. Don’t wait for your gums to show signs of a problem. Be proactive and call us today.

Periodontal Disease: More Than a Mouth Problem in The Woodlands

Periodontal disease isn’t only a mouth problem, it can affect the whole body! Here at The Woodlands dental office of Shirley E. Cagle, DDS, FAGD, we treat periodontal disease with a preventive approach.

Since periodontal disease originates in the mouth, the bacteria is easily transferred to other areas of the body and has been linked to some serious health conditions.

 

Research has shown a strong link between periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease, which could lead to stroke or heart attack. In fact, those with periodontal disease are at double the risk of suffering a fatal heart attack or stroke.

In addition to cardiovascular disease, gum disease has been linked to lung disease, kidney disease, premature or low birthweight babies, and difficult management of diabetes.

While preventing gum disease with visits to our dental office in The Woodlands at least twice a year is ideal, the best approach to treating any active gum disease is early detection and treatment, before the disease progresses and starts to affect your overall health.

If you’re experiencing any symptoms of gum disease including bleeding or sore gums, contact Shirley E. Cagle, DDS, FAGD at 855-251-4554 to schedule your appointment today. We look forward to taking care of your smile, and your health.