You brush. You floss. You're practically the poster child for perfect dental hygiene. But you could still end up with gum disease—and that's not good. Also known as periodontal disease, it's basically a bacterial infection beneath the gum line that can affect a lot more than your smile.
If you've ever looked at Google images for gum disease (not pretty), you'll see how it affects the surrounding bone and tissue around the teeth. But one thing you won't see is the impact it can have on pregnancy. Pregnant women are up to eight times more likely to give birth prematurely to low birth-weight babies. Gum disease can also have a correlation with diabetes, heart disease, and other conditions.
Stats from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tell us that 47.2 percent of American adults over 30 have some form of gum disease. Nearly 70% of adults over 65 have it. Add it all up, and that's 64.7 million adults over age 30 with gum disease. Ouch.
In other words, there's a good chance you may already have it. But how do you know for sure? For starters, your teeth could be trying to tell you something if you have:
- Gums that bleed during brushing or flossing
- Red, swollen or tender gums
- Gums that pull away from teeth
- Persistent bad breath
- Pus between teeth and gums
- Loose or separated teeth
But there's only one way to know for sure, and that's regular professional cleanings, exams and Digital X-rays. According to Dr. Brad Guyton, a Smile Generation®-trusted clinician, "Routine prevention visits to your dentist can literally save you thousands of dollars every year in dental and medical costs, especially for patients with chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease."
Bottom line? Find a dentist or periodontist you trust. And find one soon. For help with that, you can visit SmileGeneration.com for a trustworthy, affordable dentist near you.