Gum Disease Can Also Affect Your Jaw Health

HERE AT DENTAL PARTNERS OF BOSTON, we’ve been fighting a war against gum disease for a long time. Many of our patients are surprised to learn that in adults, tooth loss is usually a direct result of gum disease! And new research is showing that gum disease hurts even more than your teeth…

Periodontal Disease Hurts Your Jaw In Two Ways

Apparently, the bacteria that causes gum disease is a bad influence on the whole chemistry of your mouth. It causes proteins that are normally protective to turn traitor and start attacking bone mass (in your jaw) instead.

The second way gum disease hurts your jaw is through lost teeth. When teeth fall out, the jaw bone underneath deteriorates.

Make Sure You Have An Anti-Gum-Disease Strategy

Plan A: Preventative Care

Your best option is to prevent gum disease in the first place. If gum disease hasn’t progressed, then you can stop it simply through your careful home routine. Cleaning appointments with our team are also an important part of gum disease prevention.

Plan B: Periodontal Treatment

However, if gum disease has already progressed, you’ll need some extra TLC. We may recommend planing and scaling, which will make it easier to clean your teeth and prevent hidden pockets of bacteria. We also have advanced laser periodontal treatment, which removes the diseased tissue without hurting your healthy gums.

Plan C: Dental Implants

How do you restore oral health once it’s gone so far that you have tooth loss? Don’t let your jaw suffer the consequences—the best solution for tooth loss is dental implants. Unlike bridgework, implants can actually fuse with the jawbone and prevent jawbone deterioration.

Questions? Let’s Talk

Let us help you work out a plan to prevent or treat gum disease. Contact us for an appointment. You can also ask a quick question below, or privately on our Facebook page.

Thanks for being a valued part of our practice!

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