Treating Periodontal Disease for Good Oral & Overall Health
You may think that periodontal disease just impacts your gums. The truth is, periodontal disease can harm your smile and your whole-body health. Think of the mouth as a gateway to the rest of the body. Bad oral bacteria can gain access to internal systems, causing damage and putting you at risk of chronic health problems.
At Bast Dental Clinic in Fairbanks AK, the father-and-son team of Dr. Fred Bast and Dr. John Bast take a proactive approach to periodontal disease. If you don’t have it, they’ll teach you how to prevent it. If you do have it, they’ll recommend trusted treatments to renew gum health and halt the destructive progression of gum disease.
Gum Disease: More Common Than You Think
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, half of American adults suffer from the advanced form of this chronic inflammatory condition, called periodontitis. However, many more people have early-stage gum disease (gingivitis) and don’t even know it! That’s because early on, gum disease symptoms may be few or nonexistent. Bleeding that occurs when brushing or flossing or gums that appear red and swollen may be the only signs that gum disease is present. As the disease progresses, sufferers may experience the following symptoms:
- Loose teeth
- Shifting teeth
- Unexplained, chronic bad breath
- Pus around teeth or gums
- Receding gum tissue
At its worst, gum disease can cause the loss of teeth, gum tissue, and bone.
Gum Disease Impacts Whole-Body Health
Numerous studies link gum disease with life-altering and even life-threatening conditions such as:
- Heart disease
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Lung problems
- Diabetes complications
- Dementia
- Low birth weight
Gum Disease Treatments in Fairbanks AK
Our Fairbanks AK dentists stress prevention to avoid the debilitating effects of gum disease. Eating a nutritious diet, brushing, and flossing as recommended by the dentist, and visiting Bast Dental Clinic for regular checkups and cleanings are the first steps on the road to gum disease prevention.
If you have gum disease, the doctor will determine the optimal treatment to address your systems and renew the health of your mouth. Scaling and root planing or topical antibiotic therapy may be recommended to address mild to moderate gum disease. Advanced cases can require surgery. We’ll work with you to create a treatment plan that suits your individual needs.
Stay Healthy!
Take a stand against gum disease. Call Bast Dental Clinic to schedule an appointment with Fairbanks AK dentist Dr. Fred Bast or Dr. John Bast.