Showing posts with label family dentists Chandler. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family dentists Chandler. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Simple Pointers on Using a Mouth Rinse

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Oral health is crucial to a healthy and happy life. There are many times that people could have made a phenomenal first impression but failed, and all because of a smile that is unworthy of their great personality and talent.

However, this can be fixed, and simply; so, by rinsing with an antiseptic regularly. While it is true that some have let their oral health decline to the point that their family dentists are referring them to cosmetic dentists, most can forgo this step if they follow these simple tips:

For Adults

Healthy adults need to remember that rinsing in the evening is crucial, and especially after a meal that leaves food in one's teeth, such as corn. Corn breaks down into sugar, and sugar will lead to tooth decay. By getting to it early, one's teeth and gums will remain strong.

Also, let us not forget that a good oral rinse (or gargle) is important for fresh breath. For those who are single (and for those who want to keep the romance in their committed relationships) stinky breath is a major turn-off.

In fact, it is such a big deal that several films cannot help but advocate for adults - particularly men - to maintain this habit. One such flick is the upcoming title "The Red Canoe," starring Garett Metcalf, a romantic-comedy-drama about a young man who inherits his father's handmade canoe, and so much more!

For Kids

Kids can follow the same rules as adults when it comes to their hygiene, but it is important to make sure they use lower strength of a stringent mouthwash. For one, the classic Listerine will not only run the risk of turning them off from ever wanting to use it ever again, it can also be too harsh for their mouths and stomachs.

Just like regular flossing and brushing, a good rinse should be part of a child's daily routine. One proponent of this is New York City businessman, David Katz. Mr. Katz noticed while studying for his undergraduate degree that many of his classmates had not adopted this simple habit, resulting in their breath being the equivalent of a City Sewer line. The result was that a disproportionate number of them had already had a root canal. Prior to this, he thought that only the elderly underwent such procedures.

For Diabetics

Diabetics are at a higher risk for gum disease. Because of this, they must be extra diligent. Just as they need to avoid sugar for the good of their overall health, they must also realize that their healthy habits need to extend to what many consider to be a personal hygiene matter.

Naturally, diabetics also want fresh breath and a great smile, but this goes beyond vanity, because poor oral health has a correlational effect on one's coronary, circulatory, and other systems.

The key takeaways are as follows: everyone has different needs, but everyone should be taking their oral health seriously. The approach changes with age and other factors, but the need remains throughout for good daily habits.

If you are seeking professional dental advice, it's time to call Shumway Dental Care. Their Chandler dentists will ask you questions, examine you, and determine exactly what needs to be done to get you back to normal. Call today for an appointment. Visit http://mychandlerdentists.com/.

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Treating Gum Problems


If you are seeking professional dental advice, it's time to call Shumway Dental Care. Their Chandler dentists will ask you questions, examine you, and determine exactly what needs to be done to get you back to normal. Call today for an appointment. Visit http://shumwaydental.com/.

Thursday, May 21, 2015

Tooth-Friendly Diet: What to Eat and What to Avoid

Taking daily care of your teeth includes more than just brushing and flossing. The foods you eat can also have an effect on dental health. 
Family dentists often recommend foods that have a beneficial effect on overall health and the health of your teeth. Other foods can have a detrimental effect on tooth enamel and should be consumed with caution.
Foods That Aid Dental Health
If you want stronger, healthier teeth, make sure your diet includes these foods:
  • Milk and cheese – Dairy foods provide calcium in your diet, which helps to form new bone cells in the body. Include some milk and cheese every day to ensure that you get enough of this tooth-strengthening mineral.
  • Crunchy fruits – Apples and pears produce nutrients with a bit of satisfying crunch. These fruits have a high water content, which helps to dilute the sugar that they also contain.
  • Raw carrots and celery – These vegetables are not just healthy snacks for weight management; they are also rich in nutrients and also increase the amount of saliva in the mouth, which helps to clean off teeth.
  • Nuts and seeds – These foods are high in nutrients and are good for overall health. In addition, cashews have strong antimicrobial properties, which can help to prevent the bacteria that cause cavities in teeth.
  • Raw onion – Go ahead and enjoy that raw onion on your burger. Onions have been found to be a powerful anti-bacterial, which can help to prevent cavities from developing on your teeth.

Foods To Avoid
Some common foods can damage your teeth and should only be consumed in limited amounts:
  • Coffee – Cosmetic dentists often tell their patients to limit the amount of coffee they consume to avoid the inevitable staining that occurs. If you can’t do without your morning cup, brush well after drinking it or rinse with clear water.
  • Citrus fruits – Grapefruit juice, orange juice and lemon juice are all highly acidic and can damage tooth enamel. Although the vitamin C these fruits provide are important, you should take measures to minimize the damaging effects of the acid they contain. Ensure that you brush after eating citrus fruits or drinking citrus juices. If you cannot conveniently brush, rinse your mouth well with plain water to reduce the effect of the acids.
  • Sticky candy – Family dentists have traditionally warned patients to avoid candy, but some types of candy can be especially damaging. Sticky candy like caramels, taffy or Jujyfruit
  • Wine – That traditional beverage with fine dining can have a detrimental effect on tooth enamel. Wine is highly acidic and can leave your teeth vulnerable to staining from other foods. Both white and red wine can damage teeth. If you must indulge, follow up the wine with a thorough water rinsing.
  • Soft drinks/sports drinks – Soft drinks leave a thin film of sugar on teeth that are the perfect medium for growing bacteria. Even sports drinks can have an acidic effect on teeth that can damage tooth enamel.

The appearance and health of teeth are important matters for everyone. By choosing the right foods for your diet, you can ensure that you are taking the best actions to keep your teeth in top condition.
If you are seeking professional dental advice, it's time to call Shumway Dental Care. Their Chandler dentists will ask you questions, examine you, and determine exactly what needs to be done to get you back to normal. Call today for an appointment. Visit http://shumwaydental.com/.

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

How Good Dental Hygiene Can Save Your Teeth


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When you think about having good oral hygiene, there's much more to it than a pretty smile and the ability to savor a hearty meal. Research has shown that bad oral health can lead to some fairly serious health issues you may not think are related, such as heart disease. 

Despite this, we often fail to give oral hygiene the proper attention it deserves, even with our extensive health care plans. We forgo brushing as often as we should, we don't floss, and find up another reason why this month isn't a good time to see the dentist.

But not caring for your mouth is dangerous. Even deadly. And that's not an exaggeration. What you don't realize is what happens at the gum line that sets off a chain of events that can cause some very serious issues, like stroke, miscarriage, memory loss, and even a heart attack. When it comes to keeping yourself safe and healthy, proper oral health is one we can control, but the one area we neglect the most.

It Begins With The Gums

Right after you finish brushing your teeth, the process begins of plaque buildup begins. It coats the surface of the teeth and is easily removed again the next time you brush. The problem is after only about a day's time, the plaque buildup begins to harden thanks to the minerals in your saliva. It builds on and in between teeth and in the gum pockets. In a few short weeks, that soft substance becomes like cement and can only be removed by a dentist.

Your mouth is also teeming with bacteria. Even a healthy one, no matter how hard we try. The issue is bacteria loves plaque because it provides them a perfect environment to colonize and grow in numbers. They love to feast on various starches and sugars in food, fermenting them in a way that forms an acid that damages teeth and causes erosion, decay, and eventually cavities.

If you're not constantly taking care of your teeth and the plaque and tartar buildup isn't removed, the bacteria begins to grow in the area known as the periodontal which is at the gum line and between teeth. As the bacteria grows, it begins to cause a mild case of gingivitis, which makes the gums swell up and bleed. And the longer the bacteria has to grow, the worse the situation becomes, giving way to full periodontitis. The gums become full of pus as the tissues pull away from the teeth and exposing the bone. That leads to more rot and disease until the tooth no longer can stay anchored in the mouth.

Your body has a wonderful way of attacking and removing infections. It whips out all its weaponry to fight off anything that invades your body to make you sick. In the case of having poor dental hygiene, your body is constantly under attack and works overtime to try and heal the disease. Working in a constant defensive state, you don't get a chance to properly recover. That ensures that there is a leakage of bacteria into the bloodstream and ultimately makes you sick.

This is why it's important to visit one of many amazing family dentists for regular check ups and to remove the hardened plaque from our teeth. Be sure to brush and floss regularly. If you're someone who has already suffered loss of teeth due to periodontitis, there are many cosmetic dentists available to fix your mouth upright and correct damage already done. There's no excuse for bad oral health. These issues are all completely treatable and reversible to help save your teeth and your smile.           

If you are seeking professional dental advice, it's time to call Shumway Dental Care. Their Chandler dentists will ask you questions, examine you, and determine exactly what needs to be done to get you back to normal. Call today for an appointment. Visit http://shumwaydental.com/.

Thursday, March 5, 2015

Electric Toothbrush VS Manual Toothbrush

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How do you think an electric toothbrush stands up to its conventional counterpart? We've gathered the thoughts from experts to find out which one is better: the good, old-fashioned or the state-of-the-art.

The electric type is becoming widely used and popular these days. Family dentist and manufacturers say this advanced variety offers superior and exceptional dental cleaning. But how does it really compare to manual toothbrushing?

The goal in using a toothbrush is to get rid of the plaque as well as stimulate the gums, this was explained by John Ictech-Cassis, DDS, DMD. He is a clinical associate professor at the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine. When asked about his thoughts between the better of the two, he said, "Most toothbrushes will keep the teeth clean if you know how to use them."

Thursday, February 19, 2015

What are the Symptoms of Periodontal Disease?

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Periodontal disease, more commonly known as gum disease, affects a number of adults to varying degrees. Depending on the progression of the disease, one may notice inflamed gums that make teeth sensitive to temperatures and pressure, ultimately weakening the support of teeth and may lead to their loss. 

Family dentists go to great lengths to educate patients of all ages on the importance of oral hygiene to prevent such ravages to oral health, neglect of which may require the attention of cosmetic dentists to repair the damage.

Who Gets Gum Disease and How?

For many, the first time they feel symptoms of gum disease is usually once it had progressed significantly. This usually comes after ignoring milder states of periodontal infections such as gingivitis. This is almost always the direct effect or improper hygiene practices that allows plaque to build up along the gumline. This accumulation of bacteria applies itself as a film that traps in food and foreign agents that harden to become tartar. At this point, only a professional cleaning can address what brushing could have avoided.

Who is Most at Risk?

Obviously the unhygienic are most susceptible for contracting gum disease and oral infections. There are developmental changes, such as puberty and menopause that can increase the probability of developing gum disease. There are some with medical conditions that make them more prone to all kinds of infections and disease. But there are also lifestyle choices and habits that increase the likelihood of contraction.

Smokers of cigarettes are exposed to carcinogens that can contribute to tartar build, and regular smokers are at higher risk for treatment due to lower immunities to combat infection. Those with Type-2 or Adult Onset Diabetes regularly develop infections that can lead up to gum disease, if this coupled with a high sugar and/or carbohydrate diet, contributing additives to plaque are introduced.

What are Signs of Gum Disease?

As with all infections, the body communicates that something is wrong as fast as possible. Most people don't recognize these warning signs, increasing the chance of irreparable damage, discomfort, and pain.

For many, the symptoms are the same. One will experience foul breath, swollen and inflamed gums, tenderness, bleeding, discomfort when eating and drinking, increased sensitivity, and discoloration of teeth. While any one of these symptoms may not be indicative of gum disease, several of them warrant immediate attention from a dentist.

How is Gum Disease Treated?

As with other visits to the dentist, there will be a recounting of medical history to assess the past health of the patient. This will be followed up by an examination to determine the extent of the infection and the state of the gums and teeth. There are many treatment options that are readily available to dentists, and the method chosen depends on the patient and their condition. Irrespective of the method of treatment, the patient will be expected to reevaluate their method of oral hygiene to prevent a second infection.

In addition to this change in lifestyle and daily routine, most dentists will encourage regular visits and deep cleanings to remove tartar that may have been missed in the months prior.

If you are seeking professional dental advice, it's time to call Shumway Dental Care. Their Chandler dentists will ask you questions, examine you, and determine exactly what needs to be done to get you back to normal. Call today for an appointment. Visit http://shumwaydental.com/.

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Restorative Dentistry – A Guide to Dental Inlays and Onlays

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Dental inlays and onlays are dental restorations that many patients find preferable to traditional fillings and crowns. Those who favor them feel that they provide a more secure, precise, and longer-lasting solution to cavities, tooth decay, and chipped teeth.

The difference between an inlay and an onlay versus a traditional filling is how it is shaped and fitted into the tooth. Whereas a filling is molded directly into the tooth cavity where it subsequently solidifies, inlays and onlays are molded into shape in a dental lab and then fitted to the damaged tooth by family dentists or cosmetic dentists.

When the restoration is made to the middle of the tooth, it is classified as an "inlay," as opposed to an "onlay" which is used to repair tooth damage that involves a "cusp," or protruding point.

Therefore, inlays are most often used in place of dental fillings for cavities, and onlays are an alternative to dental crowns.

Why choose dental inlays and onlays over their more traditional and common alternatives? There are several reasons:

Preserving Your Teeth: Because all the work on an inlay or onlay is done in a lab and the result is inserted into the tooth only after it is completed, as much as possible of your natural tooth material is preserved. When you have a filling or get a crown made, the dentist has to sand down and chip away at even more of your tooth before he even gets to work on the restorative process.

More Durable Material: Resin-based tooth fillings and traditional crowns are known for wearing away, breaking down, chipping, and cracking over time. How many times have you known someone who had to go in for an unexpected dental procedure because his crown popped off or broke? It happens constantly. Inlays and onlays often fit better and require less material, and the material that is used is stronger and more durable.

A Better Fit: Traditional fillings that harden after the procedure have a reputation for shrinking over time. This can open up new cavities which will necessitate additional filling material. Likewise, full crowns can be bulky and uncomfortable when fitted onto your tooth. Inlays and onlays use the minimum amount of material necessary, and that material is immutable in shape and size, meaning it won't wear away or erode and leave you open for new decay.

Less Discoloration: It should be noted that fillings have come a long way from the ostentatious, shiny gold material that was used for decades. The resin used in modern fillings is formulated to be the same color as your tooth, so after the filling is inserted and it solidifies, no one will notice it is there unless they look extremely closely. However, over time, this material is much more susceptible to discoloration than is your natural tooth enamel. Inlays and onlays, on the other hand, possess the same protective qualities against discoloration that your teeth do. That means as long as you take the proper measures to keep your teeth white and free from stains, your inlays or onlays will uphold their white coloring as well.

If you are seeking professional dental advice, it's time to call Shumway Dental Care. Their Chandler dentists will ask you questions, examine you, and determine exactly what needs to be done to get you back to normal. Call today for an appointment. Visit http://shumwaydental.com/.

Sunday, January 18, 2015

How Does a Dentist Determine if Someone is a Dental Implant Candidate?

Dental implants have revolutionized tooth replacement for those who have lost teeth due to disease or injury. However, a number of factors affect whether dental implants are recommended for your individual needs. Family dentists can do a preliminary assessment of whether you would be a good candidate for dental implants.

General Health
Cosmetic dentists generally assess the overall health of patients before they begin any kind of dental procedure. These questions allow the dental professional to ascertain whether any issue exists that could affect tooth health, gum condition or the treatment itself. Getting dental implants require that you be in good general health and not have any medical problem that might affect the procedures necessary to place the implants and heal gum tissues.

Condition of the Bones
The condition of the bones that make up the tooth socket also has an important bearing on the ability to hold an implant. Bone density can be reduced by age or tooth loss. If you do not have enough bone to hold an implant, your dentist may have to graft on new bone. This process can add additional time to the implant process, but it will ensure that the implant holds securely.

Gum Disease
If you have long-standing, untreated gum disease, you should not get dental implants. Implants require healthy tissue to form around the implant after placement. You should first get the gum condition treated, and then talk to your dental professional about receiving implants.

Existing Systemic Disease
If you have been diagnosed with certain systemic diseases, they may affect your ability to achieve success with dental implants. Family dentists may inquire whether you have diabetes, leukemia or cancer, which can all affect the ability of the tissues to heal around the implant. If you have received radiation for cancer, it may also affect healing. Also, individuals with connective tissue disease, hemophilia and immune system disorders are not good candidates for dental implants.

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Pregnancy
Most dental experts believe that it is better to wait until after the birth before doing implant treatment. Diagnostic and antibiotic treatments that normally occur during implant procedures may have a detrimental impact on the fetus. It is much safer to wait until after the birth before proceeding with implant treatment.

Smoking and Alcoholism
People who smoke have reduced circulation to the mouth tissues, which can affect healing when placing implants. You can help to ensure success with your implants by quitting smoking before your treatments begin. Similarly, excessive use of alcohol or drugscan also affect the ability of tissues to heal properly. Getting treatment for this condition before treatment will help to achieve a successful outcome with the implants.

Motivated To Care For the Implants
In many ways, the same care the patient must do to preserve their natural teeth is required to care for dental implants. Daily brushing and flossing, as well as regular visits to the dentists, are required to ensure that the gums remain healthy and the implants remain stable. If implants become damaged, the patient must have them repaired or replaced.

Most patients find that dental implants are good replacements for natural teeth. Your dentist will provide a thorough evaluation of your dental and overall health to ensure a successful implant experience.

If you are seeking professional dental advice, it's time to call Shumway Dental Care. Their Chandler dentists will ask you questions, examine you, and determine exactly what needs to be done to get you back to normal. Call today for an appointment. Visit http://shumwaydental.com/.

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Should I Get Full Dentures or Partials?

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The dilemma of having to choose between full dentures or partials is really a choice that you have to make with professional advice. Cosmetic dentists and family dentists can guide their patients as to how extensive the problem is and what the best procedure and answer would be for the patient's welfare.

What is a denture?

A denture acts as a replacement for missing teeth and tissues, and it can be taken out and put back into the mouth. While it takes time to get used to wearing dentures, and they do not really feel like your real teeth, today's dentures are more comfortable and natural looking than they used to be.

Full or complete dentures

After the removal of all remaining teeth, and the gum tissues have had a chance to heal, a CONVENTIONAL full denture is ready for placement in the mouth about eight to 12 weeks after the teeth have been removed. As the healing takes place, during that time you are without teeth.

IMMEDIATE dentures are custom created in advance by measurements and models of your jaw during an earlier visit and are inserted immediately after all remaining teeth are removed. Although that means that the wearer does not have to go a period of time without teeth, gums and bones shrink during the healing period.

Therefore, a disadvantage of the immediate dentures is that they will require more adjustments in order to fit properly and will probably have to be relined several months after insertion because the bone supporting the teeth reshapes as it heals and causes the dentures to become loose.

Dentures are custom-made in a dental laboratory from impressions previously taken of your mouth. Full dentures have a base in a flesh color and rests over your gums. The upper base covers the palate/roof of your mouth. The base of the lower denture is in the shape of a horseshoe to allow room for your tongue.

Partial dentures

Partial dentures are used when some teeth are missing and some natural teeth remain. The dentures attach to regular teeth and replace ones that are missing. The dentures are constructed of tissue colored acrylic or light-weight metal alloy.

A removable partial denture/bridge is made up of replacement teeth attached to that base, and often are connected by metal framework to hold the denture in place. This is used when there are still some healthy natural teeth in the jaw.

A fixed bridge is to replace teeth by putting crowns on the teeth on either side, attaching artificial teeth to them, and cementing the bridge into place. In addition to a partial denture filling in the empty spaces created by missing teeth, it also can prevent other teeth from changing their positions. More natural looking is a partial denture that is removable and has internal attachments instead of clasps that attach to adjacent crowns that may have to have been placed on some of your teeth to provide anchors.

Remember that family dentists and cosmetic dentists can explain the dentures process to you in detail and answer any of your questions.

If you are seeking professional dental advice regarding dentures, it's time to call Shumway Dental Care. Their Chandler dentists will ask you questions, examine you, and determine exactly what needs to be done to get you back to normal. Call today for an appointment. Visit http://www.mychandlerdentists.com.


Which Teeth Whitening Option Is Best for You?

One of the easiest ways to improve your personal appearance is to make your teeth whiter. White teeth not only look healthier and more attractive than do teeth that are yellow or otherwise discolored, but having white teeth will encourage you to smile more, making you more pleasant to be around.

There has been an explosion of teeth whitening products in recent years, almost all of which are heavily marketed, promising amazing results in very little time with even less effort.

While most of these products do work to some degree, there are some significant differences between them that are worth knowing. Educating yourself on teeth whitening products will help you pick the one that is best for you.

Also, cosmetic dentists and even family dentists can help you decide on the best whitening solution based on your budget, time constraints, and the current condition of your teeth.

Here are the different teeth whitening solutions available to you.

Whitening toothpaste. This is the easiest solution, because it doesn't require any effort beyond the regular twice-daily brushing that you (hopefully) already do. Brushing your teeth with any kind of toothpaste whitens your teeth to some degree, as its abrasive properties help remove surface stains. Whitening toothpaste take it a step further by including additional ingredients, most notably hydrogen peroxide, which have known whitening properties.

The downside to using this method exclusively to whiten your teeth is that it is less effective and takes longer than other methods, as the whitening agents are in contact with your teeth for such a short duration.

Whitening rinses. This product is generally used the same way as regular mouthwash, meaning you swish and gargle it for 30 to 60 seconds immediately after brushing. Like whitening toothpastes, its active ingredient is usually hydrogen peroxide. The advantages of using a whitening rinse are as follows: One, it takes very little time and effort.

Two, it is very inexpensive. And three, its liquid form enables it to reach a lot of areas that your toothbrush and toothpaste cannot. Whitening rinses suffer from the same drawback as whitening toothpaste -- namely, that it only remains in your mouth and thus in contact with your teeth for a couple minutes per day.

At-home whitening strips and trays. These are purchased at the supermarket and applied to your teeth daily for anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour or longer. The treatment period usually lasts between 7 and 14 days.

Whitening strips and trays work by coating your teeth with a gel-based peroxide solution. They are quite a bit more expensive than toothpastes or rinses, and they require much more of a daily time commitment.

In-office whitening sessions. This procedure is done in the office of cosmetic dentists or family dentists and usually takes between 30 and 60 minutes.

It involves applying a much more concentrated solution to your teeth than you can buy over the counter, and many dentists amplify its effects by using light and/or heat. While having your teeth whitened in-office usually costs more than any over-the-counter solution, it is -- without question -- the most effective method.

Want a whiter teeth? Give Shumway Dental Care and call and make an appointment to see one of their Chandler AZ dentists. Dr. Andy Shumway and his son Dr. Joel Shumway are experienced in all types of cosmetic dentistry, and can tell you the best route to take to get your teeth up to par. Visit the site at http://www.mychandlerdentists.com.


Monday, December 15, 2014

What are the Stages of Periodontal Disease?

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Periodontal disease is a progressive disease of the teeth and gums that can lead to infected and receding gums, destruction of the periodontal tissues (the periodontal ligament that holds the tooth in its socket, and the bone to which it is attached), loss of teeth, and even a compromised immune system. Cosmetic dentists can repair the visible damage of periodontal disease, and family dentists can help prevent and treat it, but the first and best line of defense is proper dental hygiene by the patients themselves.

The stages of periodontal disease are Gingivitis, Early Periodontitis, and Advanced Periodontitis.

Gingivitis:

Gingivitis is the first stage of periodontal disease, and the stage with which the average person is most familiar. Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums caused by a buildup of plaque at the gum line and base of the teeth that can harbor harmful bacteria. These bacteria produce waste and toxins which irritate and inflame the gums, a symptom of which is bleeding during brushing. This is the easiest stage of periodontal disease to treat and reverse, as no damage to the periodontal tissues has yet occurred.

Early Periodontitis:

When gingivitis goes untreated it can cause buildup of tartar on the teeth at the gum line. This buildup often has an irregular surface of pits, sharp edges, and grooves. It is an ideal surface for even more plaque formation, and can cause pockets to form in the gums at the base of the teeth that can ultimately extend down to the periodontal tissues. Food, bacteria, and additional plaque can become trapped deep in these pockets which then begin to damage bone and ligament tissue. This damage is irreversible, but it can be stopped with proper treatment.

Advanced Periodontitis:

As the periodontal disease progresses, the gum line may recede making the teeth appear longer, the pockets at the base of the teeth may grow larger and deeper, and bone and ligament damage progresses to the point that the teeth loosen and shift in the gums. This can cause an incorrect bite, further infection, and ultimately loss of teeth. Other symptoms may include bad breath and tastes, pain, pus discharge, and discomfort while eating.

Genetics and lifestyle factors can contribute to the severity of periodontal disease. Hormonal changes, illness and some medications may make the gums more sensitive or affect the protective flow of saliva. Clenching the jaw or grinding the teeth can put additional stress on the bones and ligaments of the periodontal tissues. Poor diet and stress may contribute to faulty immune system responses, and diabetes and smoking in particular are key contributors to periodontal disease.

Successful treatment of periodontal disease begins with you. Since plaque buildup is the primary cause of the disease, a proper regimen of brushing and flossing should help prevent the onset of gingivitis. Proper diet, sleep and stress relief, refraining from smoking, and proper treatment and handling of immune system issues in the individual are determining factors in preventive care. Services provided at regular checkups by family dentists such as plaque and tarter removal complete the prevention program. Good dental health is about much more than a great smile!

If you are seeking professional dental advice regarding periodontal disease, it's time to call Shumway Dental Care. Their Chandler dentists will ask you questions, examine you, and determine exactly what needs to be done to get you back to normal. Call today for an appointment. Visit http://shumwaydental.com/.