It’s a well-known fact in the world of dentistry that over 75 percent of people over 35 years of age in North America have some type of gum disease (also known as periodontal disease), and most aren’t even aware that they have it Yet the causes behind the disease and statistics are numerous and varied

Gum disease is a bacterial infection of the tissue that surrounds your teeth, and the traditional approach to removing the plaque, tartar and pockets of infection that are consistent with periodontal problems (gum disease) is to either scrape away the tartar and infection in a process called scaling and root planing or to cut into the gum tissue to be able to access and remove any infected deposits below the surface

Gum disease (also known as periodontal disease) is a condition that a large percentage of Americans will deal with sometime in their lifetime In fact the percentages of adults who have some form of gum disease have been reported to be 80% or higher

If you’ve ever had a toothache, you probably still remember the pain which often begins with mild discomfort in the mouth but can build until it feels as though it is affecting your entire body The basic reason for a toothache is simple—the nerve in your tooth has become irritated

No one likes bad breath and it can definitely be a cause for embarrassment or uncomfortable situations, but there is actually good news about bad breath Halitosis (another name for bad breath) is often an indicator or warning sign that there could be a problem with either your oral health or your health in general

Are your teeth sensitive Do you experience pain or discomfort when you eat or drink hot or cold foods or beverages

“Life happens,” and so do dental emergencies The important thing to keep in mind if one happens to you is to get to a dentist as quickly as possible to ensure that no permanent damage or a more serious issue develops

There are a variety of situations in life that can cause a tooth to crack and when it does, a sharp pain might surge through your tooth and disappear leaving you to think everything is okay except that any pressure in that area of your mouth causes discomfort The reason for this is that when you chew or bite down on the tooth, the cracked piece of tooth moves or the crack is widened causing pain and discomfort

Preventing dental problems before they have a chance to get started is the simplest and most cost-effective approach to oral health To begin with, it’s important to understand that a healthy mouth helps ensure a healthy body, and that problems with your teeth and gums can create other health problems

When gums are healthy, they are positioned up against your teeth covering your tooth roots and keeping food particles from getting below your gum line With gum recession, the gums move away from the tooth, exposing the tooth roots and making it easy for food and bacteria to get below the gum line sometimes creating periodontal pockets that can become infected, resulting in tooth loss or jawbone deterioration

Did you know that by taking care of your teeth and gums you can actually increase your lifespan by 23-46% over people who don’t, and that people who have gum disease are “25% more likely to have a heart attack” than people who have healthy teeth and gums Statistics like these bring home the reality that taking care of your teeth and gums throughout your lifetime is about much more than fresh breath and a beautiful smile