Gum Disease Awareness Month

Dental Articles, Dentistry by Angela Britt, Gum Therapy

When you visit our office for an oral hygiene examination and cleaning, we do more than just clean your teeth. We also look for problems like gum disease, a serious gum infection caused by bacterial growth along the gumline and around the base of the tooth. February is designated as Gum Disease Awareness Month in an effort to educate people about the prevalence of the disease and the lasting effects it can have if left untreated. Gum disease affects approximately half of American adults, so it is likely that you or one of your loved ones will be affected by this disease.

What To Know About The Causes And Forms Of Gum Disease

Dental Articles, Dentistry by Angela Britt, Education, Gum Therapy

At Dentistry By Angela Britt, we do more than offer general dentistry services, restore teeth after decay and create beautiful smiles with the help of cosmetic dentistry treatments. We also inspect the mouth for other serious oral health complications such as gum disease. Gum disease is a serious gum infection, accompanied by inflammation, caused by bacterial growth along the gumline and around the base of the tooth.

Understanding Gum Disease

Dental Articles, Dentistry by Angela Britt, Gum Therapy, Services

From an early age, we have been taught about cleaning our teeth and the importance of oral health. Most adults try to follow the rules of proper brushing and flossing to assist with keeping tooth decay under control. However, many don’t understand the importance of healthy gums and how they can greatly impact not only your oral health, but your overall health as well.

Early Detection Is Key

Dental Articles, Dentistry by Angela Britt, Gum Therapy, Oral Cancer, Services

According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, close to 53,000 Americans were diagnosed with oral cancer in 2019, and only about half of these individuals will still be alive in 5 years. The high death rate of this type of cancer is a result of late stage diagnoses. At Dentistry by Angela Britt we make it a priority to screen for oral cancer during your routine dental exam because early detection is the best way to prevent it from developing and spreading.

Do You Know the Condition of Your Gums?

Dental Articles, Dentistry by Angela Britt, Education, Gum Therapy

Most people know it’s important to take good care of their teeth, but do you know the condition of your gums is just as important to your oral health as your pearly whites? We want patients to be aware of key factors that negatively affect the health of your gums. If you are facing treatment for your gums, we also want you to know that we offer a minimally invasive procedure to treat gum disease, also known as periodontal disease.

Saliva and Oral Health

Dental Articles, Dentistry by Angela Britt, Education, Gum Therapy

The salivary glands make saliva. On average, we produce 2 to 4 pints of saliva daily. When the amount of saliva is too low, it can lead to dry mouth (xerostomia). Some diseases and medications can interfere with the amount of saliva the body makes. Or dehydration can cause it. An underlying condition may cause chronic dry mouth. The team at Dentistry by Angela Britt wants you to know about the role of saliva in oral health. The Role of Saliva Saliva contains substances to fight against decay-causing bacteria. It rinses away plaque, bacteria, acids, and food debris. Saliva has…

woman covering her mouth in shock

What Do You Know About Gum Disease?

Dental Articles, Dentistry by Angela Britt, Gum Therapy

There’s a good chance you or someone you know has gum disease. Periodontitis (gum disease) can cause serious oral health problems. The presence of gum disease can also be a sign of other health problems like diabetes, heart disease, or respiratory ailments. There are several types of gum disease you need to know about. At Dentistry by Angela Britt, we want to educate you about gum disease because early detection leads to better treatment outcomes. Types of Periodontal (Gum) Disease Gingivitis is the early stage of gum disease. Plaque, a sticky film of bacteria on your teeth, causes gingivitis. When…

Female dentist working on a patient from the mouth's perspective

A Very Real Danger

Dental Articles, Dentistry by Angela Britt, Education, Gum Therapy, Oral Cancer, Services

When I remind you that you need to come in for an examination every six months, you may think, ‘Six months, eight months … what’s the difference?’ The truth is, two months could make a difference when it comes to your health. I’m not just talking about tooth decay or gum disease, either. There is a very real danger that could be avoided by being seen by me semi-annually, without fail. What is it? Oral Cancer. The Risk of Oral Cancer Despite what you may think, oral cancer doesn’t just affect those who use tobacco products. While that certainly increases…

close up of person's gums being checked by dentist

Diabetes and Gum Disease

Dental Articles, Gum Therapy, Services, Technology

A healthy mouth is important for your whole body. This is especially true for patients with diabetes. Presently, there are over 26 million people with diabetes in this country. Studies have shown that people with diabetes are 2 times more likely to get moderate to severe gum disease. Having diabetes makes the body more susceptible to bacterial infections. Diabetes decreases the ability to fight germs that invade the gums, causing more bone loss. People with diabetes have a poor healing response. Gum infections can cause high glucose levels to be elevated and at times uncontrolled. High glucose levels in saliva…