This four-part article series presents some pretty interesting and, at times, disturbing facts about the tiny critters that call your mouth “home”!

Welcome back to our four-part article series on the tiny critters that live in your mouth and the various risks they come with. In our previous article post, we spoke to a Colorado Springs family dentist who revealed that (1) contrary to popular opinion; a dog’s mouth is no cleaner than yours, so remember that the next time you let your pooch lick you all over your face. (2) There really is no such thing as the “five second rule”. If you drop food on the floor, it’s going to pick up bacteria. This might not be such a bad thing if the floor in question is your living room, but the streets outside? Just walk away from that burrito, buddy. Let it go.

In this, the third installment of our four-part article series, we shall be looking at two more interesting facts, starting with…

Fascinating Fact # 5

Gum disease isn't actually contagious

And isn’t that a relief considering that creepy uncle of yours who loves to plant big wet ones on your face? You know… the one with the dodgy teeth and permanently bad breath?

“Periodontitis, or gum disease, is a chronic bacterial infection of the gums,” explains the Colorado Springs family dentist. “It begins as gingivitis, which is usually a result of poor oral hygiene and habits such as smoking. Left untreated, bacteria work their way deep down into the tiny spaces between your teeth and your gums, forming pockets that gradually fill with their expanding populations and wastes. This naturally irritates the gums, causing them to become red, inflamed, swollen and infected.”

While the germs that cause gum disease can be passed between you and someone else, the disease itself requires a strict dedication to NOT looking after your teeth and gums to develop. If you keep your mouth healthy with regular brushing and flossing and seek regular professional attention from your Colorado Springs dentist and oral hygienist, your uncle’s ardor should not cause any problems for you. Well, other than the obvious.

Fascinating Fact # 6

You’ve had a late night and ended up staying over at a friend’s house. Is it safe to use their toothbrush? According to the Centers for Disease Control, it isn’t!

Sharing a toothbrush with someone encourages an exchange of bodily fluids and bacteria that can increase your risk of infection.

Having said that, brushing your teeth after a night of eating and drinking – even if it is someone else’s toothbrush – can be seen as the lesser of two evils. Unless, they’ve recently suffered from a serious viral infection, in which case your finger and a blob of toothpaste will have to do.

“It’s not only toothbrushes that can increase your risk of getting sick from someone else,” says the Colorado Springs family dentist. “Research indicates that drinking glasses, lipsticks, lip balm and band instruments are also great transmitters of bacteria. If you want to avoid contracting viruses, bacteria and other potentially dangerous pathogens from other people, don’t share personal items with them.”

Stay Tuned for Part 4

To read more fascinating facts about the health of your teeth and gums, stay tuned for the final installment of this four-part article series, courtesy of Colorado Springs dentist!

This three-part article series provides an overview of the various factors, ailments and conditions that could be causing your breath to turn sour.

Welcome to the second installment of this three-part article series on the various causes of halitosis, or bad breath. In Part 1, an experienced Colorado Springs dentist explained that bad oral hygiene, tooth decay and gum disease (gingivitis and periodontitis) were the most common causes of bad breath. “Oral bacteria produce wastes that contain smelly sulfurous compounds… so the more bacteria there are in your mouth; the more likely your breath will be bad. Tooth decay and gum disease are also caused by oral bacteria, which explains why bad breath is one of the key symptoms of these conditions,” explains the dentist.

But, what if you do look after your teeth properly and still suspect that you have bad breath? According to Colorado Springs dentists, bad oral hygiene isn’t always the culprit behind halitosis. There are a number of other ailments that can cause your breath to smell bad, both directly and indirectly through the faster build-up of bacteria.

The Causes of Bad Breath, Continued…

4. Sinus and Respiratory Problems

It can be a terrible nuisance: you give your teeth a thorough scrub and not even 10 minutes later, you suspect that your breath has gone bad. Why else would your colleague be looking at you through rolled up eyes and a wrinkled nose? It’s not that this is a one-time problem either… it’s something you’ve consistently noticed and yet, the dentist tells you that you are in excellent oral health.

“In many cases, the solution to halitosis is not a visit to the oral hygienist,” explains the dentist in Colorado Springs. “Rather, it’s a visit to your doctor! There are a host of general health issues that can cause bad breath and an infection in the respiratory tract (especially the sinuses) is a key candidate. Bacteria in your throat, sinuses, larynx and/or lungs also produce sulfurous wastes and these gases taint your breath as you inhale and then exhale.”

The solution is therefore fairly simple: visit your medical doctor for a diagnosis and then treatment!

5. Dry Mouth

Another key cause of bad breath is a condition known as “dry mouth.” As the name suggests, this condition is characterized by the impeded or slowed production of saliva in the mouth. “The problem with this condition, especially when it’s a chronic problem, is that it renders your teeth and gums more vulnerable to oral bacteria,” explains the dentist in Colorado Springs. “Saliva is a natural anti-bacterial and your body’s first line of defense against the microorganisms that cause cavities and tooth decay.”

What causes dry mouth?

“Alcohol causes dry mouth, as do habits such as smoking and chewing tobacco. There is also a host of medications that can cause dry mouth, including anti-histamines. If you’re on any chronic medications for dry mouth, you should speak to your treating physician about an alternative drug or a different dose so that you can perhaps offset the side effects. If this is not an option for you, you will have to do what you can to mitigate the risks of dry mouth, such as drink more water, brush more frequently and perhaps rinse with an anti-bacterial mouthwash,” advises the Colorado Springs dentist.

Stay Tuned for Part 3

Stay tuned for the final installment of this three-part article series to find out more about the different causes of halitosis, or bad breath.

This article explains what a root canal is, why they can be necessary and what you can expect from the procedure.

It happens. Whether it is due to a lack of regular visits to your dentist, too much of a sweet tooth or just plain wear and tear, there comes a time for many when we might face needing a root canal. It’s not a trip to the fair, but it is a lot more fun than dealing with the consequences of avoiding one. In order to provide a step-by step account of the entire process, it’s best to start at the very beginning by determining what symptoms to look out for as a sign that you might be in need of a root canal.

How Do I Know if I Need a Root Canal?

Sometimes, a root canal may be needed but no symptoms present themselves. In other cases, patients could experience severe toothache and sensitivity. According to the dentist in Colorado Springs you can’t assume anything until a dental expert has seen you. He or she will determine, via a clinical examination and X-ray, what your next course of action should be.

However the following list of signs may present themselves:

• Severe toothache: Experiencing pain while chewing or applying pressure may be a sign of decayed or infected teeth.

• Swelling and Tenderness: If you notice that your gums are swollen and sore, it is likely that you have a bacterial infection.

• Prolonged sensitivity: Sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures, which lasts after the hot or cold has been removed.

• Discoloration: The darkening of a tooth caused by decay.

What is Root Canal Therapy?

Root canal therapy is a treatment that repairs and saves teeth that have either become badly decayed or infected or are at an increased risk of becoming so. ‘Root canal’ refers to the natural cavity/cavities within the center of the tooth. The pulp is the soft tissue within the root canal and the tooth’s nerve lies within the root canal. During the procedure the nerve and pulp are removed and the inside of the tooth is thoroughly cleaned, sterilized and re-sealed. There’s no need to worry about the missing nerve, as it is not necessary to a tooth’s health or function after it has emerged from the gums in childhood.

Why Should the Tooth Pulp and Nerve Be Removed?

If the tooth’s nerve tissue or pulp becomes exposed as a result of accidental trauma or bacteria decay of its protective housing structure (the tooth), it becomes exceptionally vulnerable to bacteria, which begin to proliferate. Without treatment, the tissue surrounding the tooth can also become infected and painful abscesses (the infection spreads all the way past the ends of the roots of the tooth) may form.

Allowing the problem to progress may cause a number of complications, such as inflammation that can extend to other areas of the face, neck, or head; bone loss around the tip of the root and drainage problems extending outward from the root. To avoid these painful and potentially dangerous problems, Colorado Springs dentist suggests a simple procedure.

So, What Can I Expect From a Root Canal?

The first step in your procedure would be to have an X-ray taken in order to determine the shape of your root canals and resolve whether there are signs of infection in a surrounding bone. Your dentist will then use a local anesthesia to numb the area near the tooth/teeth in question. An access hole will be drilled into the tooth, at which point your dentist will remove all pulp along with bacteria, decayed nerve tissue and related debris from within your tooth. Using root canal files, the tooth will be professionally cleaned, whilst water is used to periodically flush away debris. Once the tooth is successfully cleaned and free of infection, it is sealed. The final step may involve further restoration of the tooth, according to Colorado Springs dentists, but this will be discussed with you during your appointment.

This article considers the relationship between oral hygiene and overall health. We also supply valuable information about a good oral hygiene routine and nutritional advice that contributes to healthy teeth!

Welcome back to the final instalment of this article series. In our previous post, we discussed the relationship between oral health and general health and how both can negatively affect the other. In this article, with the sound advice of a Colorado Springs dentist, we will be looking at the relationship between nutrition and oral health. There are foods that invite plaque and foods that fight plaque, and most of the foods that are good for your teeth are also great for your overall health; containing wonderful vitamins and nutrients for your whole body!

The Good

There is a great deal of wonderful, healthy food that will help you fight cavity-causing plaque. Try adding these to your next shopping list.

• Milk, plain yogurt, cheese and other dairy products: 99% of your body’s calcium reserves are stored in the bones and teeth, providing strong structural support. And products filled with calcium help put back minerals your teeth may have lost due to other foods.

• Fruits and veggies rich in fiber: Fiber rich foods help to stimulate saliva flow, which is your body’s best natural defense against the bacteria that cause cavities.

• Water: A healthy, daily intake of water does wonders for your entire body. Water promotes saliva production and washes away acids that can cause tooth enamel erosion. Basically a mouth that is moist is a healthy, happy mouth!

• Iron rich foods: Such as lean red meats, some nuts and cereals. An iron deficiency can lead to sores on the inside of your mouth and an inflamed tongue.

The Bad

The major cause of tooth decay and cavities is the breakdown of refined sugars by bacteria. Their acidic wastes attack the protective enamel covering your teeth, dissolving it. This is why frequent plaque removal is so important. Keep up a good home oral hygiene routine and visit your dentist for plaque removal and teeth whitening in Colorado Springs, to help you get a fresh start.

Interestingly, studies have shown that it is not necessarily the amount of sugar intake but the frequency of sugar intake that is important when considering damage to your teeth. If you are constantly sucking, chewing or eating high sugar-content foods, your mouth will consistently be under acid attack. Avoid this problem by avoiding sugar and acidic foods for longer periods of time; try to downscale on your sugar intake on a whole. Try choosing alternative snacks that aren’t as harmful to your teeth, a Colorado Springs dentist suggests: fruits, nuts, cheese and fresh vegetables.

Signing Off

In this article series we explored how your oral health is connected to your general health and furthermore how your diet can positively or negatively affect your oral health. With the help of a Colorado Springs dentist, we have identified the positive habits that can help improve your overall health! A balanced diet is important for keeping your bones and gums healthy. Foods rich in vitamin C, vitamin B12, folic acid and calcium are great for you for a variety of reasons. So, try to find out how you can incorporate these minerals and vitamins into your daily diet, for a better quality of life and a better quality of oral health!

This article provides some advice on how to prevent bad breath or halitosis, which is generally a product of bacterial activity in the mouth.

Do you think you suffer from chronic bad breath? Well, if the statistics are to be believed, you’re not alone! According to the American Dental Hygienists’ Association, as many as 40 million people in the United States suffer from halitosis. But, just because there are lots of people out there with pongy breath, doesn’t mean you want to be a part of the “in” crowd… bad breath is a disaster for your social life, not to mention your chances of kissing that beautiful girl who sits next to you in your sociology class.

So, courtesy of dentists in Colorado Springs CO, here are some simple, yet effective ways to bust bad breath and prevent it entirely!

What Causes Bad Breath?

By understanding what causes breath to sour, you can do what it takes to prevent such circumstances. Bad breath is predominantly caused by bacterial activity in the mouth. Bacteria feed off the food debris and sugary residues left behind in your mouth after a meal, snack or beverage. They then excrete waste products that contain sulfurous compounds. It’s these gassy compounds that cause your breath to smell. Most of us suffer from bad breath at some stage during the day: usually first thing in the morning and when we haven’t eaten for a while. But, the following bad breath busters can quite easily remedy it:

• Brush your teeth more frequently,
• Floss your teeth before you go to bed at night,
• Scrape or brush your tongue,
• Gargle with an anti-bacteria mouthwash,
• Make sure you see the oral hygienist twice or three times a year.

All of these activities make up a thorough home oral hygiene routine that will help to keep oral bacteria in check. This in turn prevents bad breath. In fact, good oral hygiene is the very best way to keep your breath smelling sweet!

Having said this, there are times when professional attention may become necessary.

Knowing when it’s Time to See the Dentist or Doctor

Sometimes the root cause behind bad breath can be something a little more serious than a meal heavy in garlic, or not having eaten for a few hours. Bacterial infection of the gums, known as gingivitis, is quite notorious for causing chronic bad breath. So is its meaner cousin, periodontitis, which could go as far as causing tooth loss if you don’t get it treated promptly by a dental healthcare professional! If you suspect that you suffer from bad breath that won’t go away when you brush and floss regularly and thoroughly, it’s time to book an appointment with the Colorado Springs dentist.

Bad breath can also be caused by certain illnesses and conditions, such as sinus infections, diabetes, post nasal drips, kidney disease, liver diseases or lung infections. So, it might be a good idea to see your medical doctor as well. Speak to him or her about any medications you might be on because certain chemicals in these medications can cause “dry mouth” – a condition that actually exacerbates halitosis. In general, drinking plenty of water and chewing sugar-free gum can help improve breath.

When Bad Breath is Deserved

Sometimes, bad breath is earned. Habits such as smoking and heavy drinking are absolutely terrible for the health of your teeth and gums. According to the Colorado Springs dentist, these habits are directly linked with chronic halitosis. Kick the habit or you’ll be doomed to smell unsavory.

A Final Note

After all is said and done, if you look after your teeth well, go to your dentist regularly and are in great physical health yet STILL manage to turn people off when you talk to them, perhaps it’s time to stop using those ridiculous one-liners… or lay off the garlic at dinnertime.

This three-part article series takes a look at the various microorganisms that live in our mouth and how we can best manage and control them, effectively helping to prevent gum disease.

Welcome to the third and final installment of our series on oral bacteria. With the guidance of dentists in Colorado Springs, let’s take a look at some final interesting facts about the legions of microbes populating our mouths.

Common Conduits for Oral Bacteria

Did you know that lipstick, lip balm, band instruments, drinking glasses or any other item that comes into direct contact with the mouth is a conduit for bacteria and other infectious microbes? According to Colorado Springs dentists, you could be exposing yourself to potentially harmful microbes simply by sharing some lip balm with a friend! It’s never easy to deny a friend something they want, especially if it’s as seemingly innocent as lip balm, so the decision you face is whether to come across as mean or minimize your risk of swapping infections.

Tip: Tell them you recently suffered a nasty bout of stomach flu. That’ll solve your problem fast!

Antibacterial Mouthwashes Get the Thumbs Up for Addressing Halitosis

Anti-bacterial mouthwashes get the thumbs up from the ADA in their ability to combat bad breath, or halitosis. Apparently, most of these anti-bacterial mouthwashes offer a therapeutic benefit in reducing the numbers of oral bacteria that leads to plaque formation and ultimately, conditions such as gingivitis and bad breath. While not even a good swig of Listerine can prevent bad breath caused by eating too much garlic and onion, it can help to mask bad breath stemming from other causes. Remember, mouthwash doesn’t address the cause of bad breath, only the symptom. If you believe you suffer from halitosis, book an appointment with your dentist and get to the root of the problem.

Another Reason to Love Green Tea

Did you know that research has associated the consumption of green tea with healthier gums and cleaner teeth? Whether this is because the people who drink green tea tend to be more health conscious, or because the properties of the green tea itself are beneficial to oral health remains to be seen.

They’re Not All Bad Guys!

“Not all bacteria are bad for you,” explain Colorado Springs dentists. Many of the species of bacteria in your mouth are critical to the maintenance of good oral health. How? Certain species of bacteria secrete substances that actually kill off the bad kinds of bacteria. In fact, clinicians are trying to develop new toothpastes that make use of the “good” oral bacteria in trying to eliminate the “bad” kinds that lead to tooth decay and gum disease.

Plaque Under the Microscope

So as it turns out, bacteria aren’t invisible. In large enough numbers, you can actually view the legions of microorganisms that inhabit your mouth. Did you know that plaque IS bacteria? That whitish sticky substance you scrape off your teeth with your fingernail, especially after a sweet snack, is composed entirely of oral bacteria! Just one tooth can host up to 500 million bacteria. And, of course, plaque is the main cause of tooth decay and gum disease. This is why it’s so important to brush and floss regularly and thoroughly.

A Final Note

Living with bacteria is a fact of life. There are billions of them in our mouth and a good oral hygiene routine serves to keep them under control. Most of these bacteria are good for us, while only a few are bad. So, look after your teeth and book regular appointments with Colorado Springs dentists and you should be able to keep your mouth clean. Visibly clean, that’s it!

This three-part article series takes a look at the various microorganisms that live in our mouth and how we can best manage and control them, effectively helping to prevent gum disease.

Welcome back to the second installment of our three-part article series on oral bacteria and the myths and facts surrounding them. As we discussed in Part 1, our mouths are naturally teeming with billions of bacteria. Just one tooth can house as many as 500 million of these microscopic organisms! The better you are about brushing and flossing your teeth, the cleaner your mouth will be, but you’ll never totally eliminate these microorganisms. “Not all bacteria are bad for you either,” says a Colorado Springs dentist. “Many are crucial for maintaining the balance of health in the mouth.”

There’s much to learn about a whole invisible world going on inside our own mouths, so let’s continue on with taking a look at oral bacteria.

Is Your Toothbrush Clean? Really Clean?

There are all sort of old fish wives’ tales about eliminating bacteria on the bristles of your toothbrush. Some recommend soaking your toothbrush in antiseptic mouth rinse, which sounds reasonable. Others are ridiculous and range from microwaving your toothbrush for 15 seconds to putting it in the dishwasher. But, according to Colorado Springs dentists, the only thing you need to do to keep your toothbrush clean is to rinse it under a running tab after use and then leave it out in the open air to dry, preferably away from a flushing toilet.

The American Dental Association (ADA) has stated that no other measures have proved helpful or advantageous in keeping your toothbrush clean and free of bacteria. In fact, many have proven to be detrimental or even damaging to your toothbrush! A run in the dishwasher or microwave, for example, would probably melt or warp the plastic in your toothbrush. The same advice applies for other dental appliances, such as retainers. If you ever have any doubt about how to store your toothbrush, speak to your dentist.

Out with the Old in with the New

When is it time to replace your toothbrush? According to the ADA, every three to four months or when the bristles start becoming frayed and bent out of shape. Interestingly enough, regularly replacing your toothbrush isn’t done to avoid bacteria from building up on its bristles. Apparently, there is no clinical evidence to show that bacteria on the bristles of your toothbrush can be especially damaging to your health. Generally speaking, your immune system should take care of the worst of those microbes.

The main reason you should change your toothbrush every three to four months is to benefit from a 100% functional cleaning implement. After some time, the bristles can lose their flexibility and will become bent out of shape. This compromises their cleaning ability. So, to keep your toothbrush in good working order, it’s best to replace regularly.

What happens if your toothbrush becomes frayed after only a short amount of time? Well, you may be pressing down too hard! “This could be irritating your gums and eroding your dental enamel, so lighten up on your grip,” advise dentists in Colorado Springs.

Stay Tuned for Part 3

Stay tuned for the final installment of this three-part article series in which dentists in Colorado Springs provide us with a closer and more personal look at the oral bacteria populating our mouths.

This four-part article series discusses the problems, challenges and repeat expenses associated with denture wearing, some of them as serious and potentially fatal as malnutrition.

Removable dentures have long been the teeth replacement technology of choice for patients who have lost most or all of their original adult teeth; a state referred to as edentulism. However, just because dentures have been the most popular choice, does not mean they offer the best solution! With the ceaseless development of sophisticated dental implant technology and surgical protocols, specially trained and experienced Colorado Springs dentists are able to offer more and more edentulous and near-edentulous patients a brand new set of teeth that are fixed, non-removable and far more functional, durable and aesthetic than removable dentures.

Why Do People Still Opt for Removable Dentures?

The question then is: why do people still choose removable dentures? Unfortunately, most patients can’t see the benefits beyond the greater initial price tag for dental implants. Short and long term benefits aside, they would rather pay a few hundred dollars to have dentures placed than a few thousand to have dental implants placed. What these patients aren’t aware of is the fact that dentures come with their own hidden costs and repeat expenses that, in the long term, make them the costliest teeth replacement solution on the market! The worst part, however, is that these costs and expenses aren’t only financial in nature, but take a severe toll on quality of life and in values that are irreplaceable, such as your youthful smile aesthetics.

In this four-part article series, Colorado Springs dentists shall delve deep into the problems and challenges associated with denture wearing. At the same time, they will compare this archaic technology with newer methods of teeth replacement and explain how and why dental implants offer a far more sophisticated and comprehensive solution to rampant tooth loss. Let’s start with one of the biggest problems associated with denture wearing.

Removable Dentures and Jawbone Loss

Your teeth provide an indispensible service to the bone tissue in which they are anchored. Just like the muscles in your body require exercise to remain strong, so too does bone. The roots of your teeth are responsible for “exercising” the jaw and they do this by transmitting all the forces associating with biting, grinding and chewing directly into the underlying bone tissue. Removable full or partial dentures only replace the visible portion of missing teeth – the crowns – allowing the jaw to atrophy and waste away from disuse. Wearing dentures actually accelerates the rate of bone loss. What does this mean for the patient?

• Denture Refitting: As the shape of the jawbone changes, old dentures will fit less and less until a patient requires a new set of dentures to be fitted. This initially occurs once every few years, but accelerates in frequency the longer you wear dentures for. Add up the costs of denture refitting and in the long run you’ve got yourself a mighty expensive teeth replacement solution!

• A Loss of Youthful Appearance: The loss of bone volume in the jaw has a devastating effect upon one’s natural youthful facial contours. Instead of a strong and definite jawbone line, elderly denture wearers tend to have sagging skin around the oral cavity and a sunken and aged appearance. “Denture wearing is incredibly aging to one’s appearance,” explain dentists in Colorado Springs. “And once this hard tissue is lost, it’s incredibly costly, traumatic and painful to replace, if at all!”

Then there’s the fact that wearing dentures compromises the success of alternative treatment solutions, such as dental implants. But we’ll save that for Part 2 of this article series.

Stay Tuned for Part 2

To read more about what Colorado Springs dentists have to say about the real price of removable partial and full dentures, stay tuned for the second installment of this four-part article series.

This four-part article series presents some pretty interesting and, at times, disturbing facts about the tiny critters that call your mouth “home”!

Fascinating Fact # 1

The population of which of the following is closest to the number of bacteria that dwell in your mouth at any given time?

(a) New York City

(b) USA

(c) North and South America

(d) The entire world

If you’ve ever been to Times Square in New York City, it can be hard to imagine that there are more bacteria in your mouth than there are people crammed onto its plaza. But the reality is, there are billions of bacteria inhabiting the surfaces, cracks, crevasses, nooks and crannies of your mouth.

That’s right, there are probably more bacteria in your mouth than there are people on the planet!

“Your teeth, tongue, gums, cheeks and palate are covered with microscopic organisms, most of which are not directly harmless, but all of which contribute to the formation of cavity-causing plaque,” explain Colorado Springs dentists. “This is why it is so important that you brush, floss and rinse frequently and see your dentist and oral hygienist at least once a year.”

When it comes to the population of bacteria in your mouth, a Big Apple a day won’t keep the tooth loss at bay!

Fascinating Fact # 2

More than 700 different species of oral bacteria have been identified in the human mouth.

“Thankfully, most of them are harmless and won’t actually make you sick,” says the dentist in Colorado Springs. “However, the sloppier you are about maintaining good oral health and hygiene, the more at risk you put yourself of the nasty pathogens that can!”

Oral bacteria are actually visible to us as plaque, which consists of living and dead bacteria and their waste products. Plaque accumulates on the teeth, gums and tongue between brushing and flossing. If you don’t clean your teeth and gums regularly, plaque can irritate the gums, causing them to become red, inflamed and to tear and bleed easily when brushed. With time, this sticky white substance can harden to form tartar, which not only causes cavities and tooth decay, but also chronic bad breath, gum disease and tooth loss.

“Just remember how many bacteria you have swarming in your mouth at any given time and that these legions could consist of up to 700 different species. That should compel you to brush your teeth more frequently!” say Colorado Springs dentists.

Other advice includes:

• Brush two to three times a day for two minutes at a time,
• Floss every day before you go to bed at night,
• Use an anti-bacterial mouthwash as an added defense measure,
• Avoid bad habits, such as smoking, eating too much sugar and excessive alcohol intake,
• Drink plenty of water,
• Chew sugar-free gum,
• See your dentist and oral hygienist at least once a year for preventative cleanings and check-ups,
• Never ignore an oral problem or complaint.

Stay Tuned for Part 2

To read more fascinating facts about your teeth and gums, stay tuned for the second installment of this four-part article series, courtesy of the dentist in Colorado Springs!

This article takes a look at periodontal (gum) disease and the various consequences of allowing this oral condition to go without treatment.

Periodontal disease is pervasive health issue in the United States. And yet, one might say with confidence that few people even know what periodontal disease is. The Colorado Springs dentist in Pueblo will tell you that this oral affliction is characterized as an acute and chronic bacterial infection of the soft tissues surrounding the teeth. But perhaps the words ‘gingivitis’ and ‘gum disease’ might sound more familiar to you. Break it down and it’s easy to understand what the seemingly complicated terminology means, explains the Colorado Springs dentist in Pueblo:

– Peri means ‘around’

– dont means ‘teeth,’ and

– -itis is the medical suffix indicating infection.

So, altogether, periodontitis indicates an infection of the soft tissues, or gums, surrounding the teeth. Left untreated, as it so often is, this acute bacterial infection causes a whole host of terrible symptoms, including chronic bad breath, inflammation and swelling of the gums and eventual tooth loss. Put this way, periodontal disease doesn’t exactly sound like a condition you could have without knowing it. But many of the patients the Colorado Springs dentist Pueblo sees and treats have allowed their oral health to deteriorate to such an extent that they’ve begun to lose teeth.

The Importance of Regular Appointments with the Colorado Springs Dentist

The problem with oral bacterial infection, explains the Colorado Springs dentist in Pueblo, is that it frequently doesn’t cause any pain in its initial stages. And if there’s one thing that will compel a patient to seek treatment, it’s pain! One can quite easily ignore and even get used to the appearance of gum inflammation and swelling. In fact, few people recognize the early signs of bacterial infection of the gums, says the Colorado Springs dentist. This highlights the importance of regular appointments, even if you don’t think there’s anything wrong with your teeth or gums.

Periodontal (Gum) Disease: Understanding the Consequences

Leaving infection of the gums to go without treatment allows bacteria the opportunity to migrate deep down into the gingival sulci, the natural grooves and creases in the soft tissues surrounding the teeth. Deep pockets of toxin (bacterial waste) then begin to accumulate between the tooth roots and the gum wall, compromising the health of the entire tooth. At this juncture, says the Colorado Springs dentist in Pueblo, invasive surgical procedures become necessary in order to eliminate the bacterial infection that has penetrated deep down into the gums.

The symptoms of untreated gum disease may be easy enough for you to ignore, says the Colorado Springs dentist, but they won’t be easy for your friends and family to turn a blind eye to! Chronic bad breath and tooth discoloration is one thing, but seeing pus visibly ooze from gums that have become devastatingly inflamed and swollen with infection… well, it won’t make you very popular! This may sound like hyperbole intended to shock, but it is the reality of allowing oral bacterial infection to go without treatment, explains the Colorado Springs dentist in Pueblo.

A Final Note from the Colorado Springs Dentist

Protecting the health of your teeth and gums requires that you brush and floss regularly and thoroughly and go to your Colorado Springs dentist for regular check-ups and cleanings. Habits such as smoking and heavy drinking can also cause gum disease, so dump the cigarettes and be a little less heavy-handed with the spirits!