Clarmain Dental Centre - Services - Hygiene

Maybe you believe "ignorance is bliss."
We don't. So, read on.
You will certainly learn something, and you may benefit for the rest of your life.

CAUTION
Gums that bleed after routine brushing and flossing could signal the start of tooth-threatening periodontal disease. See your dentist.

Did you know that the major cause of tooth loss in adults over 30 is not tooth decay, but gum disease?
If you didn't, you're not alone. Most adults still believe tooth decay is the main threat to dental health. Unaware of what goes on below the gumline, they assume that by regular brushing with fluoride toothpaste and flossing, they can keep their teeth a lifetime.

Unfortunately, even with diligent brushing and flossing, adults can still develop gum (periodontal) disease. Today, gum disease is so common, chances are you may be experiencing the first symptoms of the condition right now. But you'd have company. Lots of it. The vast majority of all adults have some form of periodontal disease.

Preventative HYGIENE
for HEALTHY GUMS

Check Your Gums
There's an old saying that goes:
"Save your gums — or lose your teeth.”
Every day we dentists see the sad proof of that old saying. Gum disease is a serious threat to dental health, particularly for adults. It's incredibly widespread. And yet most Canadian adults don't really understand gum disease very well at all.
Check Your Gums!

In a sense, gum disease works undercover - in the space where the gums attach to the teeth. It begins as a mild infection. But left unchecked it progresses, eventually destroying the ligaments and bones that support the teeth.

Early Stage Periodontal Disease
1. Bleeding gums
2. Swollen or puffy gums
3. Reddish discoloured gums
4. Tender gums
5. Bad breath
6. Bad taste

Late Stage Periodontal Disease
7. Loose gums
8. Loose teeth
9. Gum recession
10. Change in tooth position

What is Tooth Sensitivity?

Normally the sensitive inner layer of your teeth, called dentin, is completely protected by your enamel and gums.
You may experience tooth sensitivity when the enamel wears away or if dentin comes into direct contact with cold air, a hot drink, sweet or sour food, or the bristles of your tooth brush. The result? A twinge or stab of pain. As many as 1 in 4 people suffer from sensitivity at some time. Fortunately in most cases, it is easily treated by regular brushing with a medicated toothpaste like Sensodyne-F.

HOW DO YOU GET IT?
TOOTHBRUSH ABRASION
Improper brushing may wear away the protective enamel and damage the gum tissue, to expose the sensitive dentin.

DIETARY ACIDS
Citrus fruits, carbonated beverages and most citrus fruit drinks are high in dietary acids. Frequent consumption can soften the enamel on your teeth putting them at greater risk of damage from tooth brush abrasion.

IMPROPER ORAL HYGIENE
If you don't clean your teeth properly (brush and floss regularly), plaque can build up.
Plaque can inflame the gums and expose the sensitive part of the tooth.

The mildest form of the disease is gingivitis, an inflammation of the gums due to plaque buildup. If treated properly, it is reversible. The most destructive form of periodontal disease and the major cause of tooth loss in adults is periodontitis, which causes irreversible changes in supporting tissues and destruction of the bone that holds the teeth in place.
1. Normal, Healthy Gingiva (Gums) Healthy gums and bone anchor teeth firmly in place.	2. Gingivitis Plaque and its by-products irritate the gums, making them tender, inflamed and likely to bleed.
3. Periodontitus Unremoved, plaque hardens into calculus (tartar). As plaque and calculus continue to build up, the gums begin to recede (pull away) from the teeth, and pockets form between the teeth and gums.	4. Advanced Periodontitus The gums recede further, destroying more bone and the periodontal ligament. Even healthy teeth may become loose and need to be extracted.