Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gum tissue around the crown of the teeth. It is caused by the plaque that accumulates rapidly if we don’t remove it every day. Preventing plaque buildup is a continuous battle. For example, you can brush your teeth before you go to bed and in the morning a whole new layer of plaque will have formed over your teeth. You can’t avoid it but you can control it – at this level. Once plaque reaches beneath the gum line to the root of the teeth we may be facing a more serious issue. If you skip brushing and flossing for even one day you will be putting yourself at higher risk for periodontitis.
When plaque is left to develop it will soon harden into tartar which can only be removed with a professional dental tool. If you follow a strict program for plaque control at home there will be a lot less scraping going on at your next professional visit.
You can’t do it on your own. A combination of home and professional care is essential for the maintenance of your good oral health. Prevention is the goal and the key to prevention is early detection. You may not be aware of trouble brewing but your dentist and hygienist are trained to recognize early warning signs.
Avoid serious issues by having regular six month dental checkups. Call 303-722-9504 to make your next appointment with Kendra L Patterson, DMD.