Daly City understands the importance of gum disease prevention
Gum disease is a chronic infection and inflammation of the gums and surrounding tissues. It develops when plaque, a bacteria-laden biofilm is allowed to build up around the teeth. The condition has been closely associated with a number of serious health conditions.
Dr. Leo Arellano and his highly trained team help people from Daly City and across the Bay Area understand the risk factors, symptoms, complications, and treatment of this disease to emphasize the importance of prevention.
Risks
A number of factors can put some people at higher risk for developing gum disease, making dental diligence even more important.
- Ineffective oral hygiene practices
- Hormonal changes during times such as puberty, pregnancy, menopause, or andropause, can increase the risk for gum disease
- Diabetes increases the risks of infections, including gum disease
- Smoking is a significant risk factor for gum disease and it also decreases the success of treatment
- Conditions such as AIDS, cancer, and other diseases, as well as their treatments, can make the gums more vulnerable to infection
- Genetic susceptibility makes some families prone to developing gum disease
Symptoms
Anyone who exhibits any of these symptoms should schedule a dental appointment right away:
- Receding gums
- Chronic bad breath or bad taste in the mouth
- Red, tender, swollen, or bleeding gums
- Sensitive or loose teeth
- Painful chewing
Complications
Just some of the complications that are associated with gum disease include:
- Tooth, gum, and bone loss
- Heart disease
- Difficulty controlling diabetes
- Asthma
- Respiratory problems
- Stroke
- Low birth weight, premature babies
Treatment
Depending on the extent of the disease, treatment can range from a thorough professional cleaning and improved oral hygiene practices to laser treatments, and in some cases, gum surgery.
Prevention
Dr. Leo Arellano and his team believe that prevention is the best dental treatment and offer the following tips to help patients avoid developing this serious oral disease:
- Limit sugary foods and beverages, and when they are consumed, brush or at least rinse afterwards
- Do not use smoking or smokeless tobacco
- Brush at least twice a day, preferably, brush or at least rinse after every meal or snack
- Floss every day, this step is too important to miss
- Maintain regular dental checkups
To schedule an appointment with the dental team who is dedicated to the prevention of dental problems in Daly City and the surrounding communities, call 415-881-4343 today.
