The maintenance of healthy gums is a key element of optimal oral health and overall physical wellness. Thompson Advanced Dentistry provides treatment for all stages of gum disease. Dr. Thompson, your restorative dentist in Greeley, CO can help you keep your gums healthy with personalized dental care and oral hygiene advice. Restorative dentistry can address any unique functional factors you may have. Get complete dental care for your smile, and let us support your long-term dental health.
Why Is Gum Health Important?
Healthy, stable gums support healthy teeth. The gums serve as a foundation for your bite and nourish the bone, nerve, and tooth structure that creates your oral system. When gum health is compromised by bacteria and infection, the gums can break down over time. This can lead to the development of pockets between the teeth and the gums as gum tissue shrinks away. This leads to changes in the bite as teeth shift or also become compromised.
At Thompson Advanced Dentistry we emphasize the importance of maintaining healthy gums and screening for the early signs of disease at all preventive dental care visits. Keeping your gums healthy is one of the key reasons for visiting with us twice a year. It provides the opportunity for our team to identify gum disease in the early stages when conservative treatment can be successful.
Regular visits also enable us to get to know you better. Then we can provide the most personalized care and advice for your smile. If you have a medical condition, take prescribed medications, or have lifestyle habits that could affect gum health discuss them with us during your regular visits so that we can work with you to manage concerns about gum health or chronic gum disease.
Gum Disease FAQs
Can gum disease affect my physical health?
Yes, gum disease has been proven to have an effect on not only oral health but also overall physical health. When the gums are compromised by disease their role as a barrier between harmful bacteria in the mouth and the bloodstream is diminished over time. Patients with advanced gum disease are at a greater risk for developing other health concerns including systemic and cardiovascular disease.
Can smoking cause gum disease?
It is not a direct cause of gum disease, but smoking will double your risk of developing gum disease. Smoking can impact the effectiveness of the immune system, making you more vulnerable to gum disease and infections. The habit of smoking also makes existing gum disease more difficult to manage. If you smoke, discuss it with our team when you visit. We can support your efforts to quit smoking and offer oral hygiene advice for managing your gum health.
Does dry mouth affect gum health?
If you experience dry mouth as a result of a medical condition or medication it is important to let us know when you come in for a visit. Dry mouth can significantly increase your risk for gum disease due to the decrease in the cleansing role that saliva plays in your oral health. We can help you manage dry mouth or a lack of saliva to protect both gum and overall dental health.
Schedule A Dental Appointment for Healthy Gums
If you have gum disease or concerns about the health of your gums and are looking for a local dentist in Greeley, CO, we welcome you to join the dental family at Thompson Advanced Dentistry. Contact our office to schedule an appointment by calling 970.205.9614 or request a dental visit online today.