Boston Periodontal Disease

Dr. Geoffrey Davis is a dentist and has answered some of the most common questions Bizymoms visitors have about Periodontal Disease.


Q. What Causes Tooth Loss?

A. Several causes contribute to the loss of teeth, but mostly it is due to lack of regular dental visits. Good home care, which includes daily brushing flossing and mouth rinses, is probably the single most effective way to prevent tooth loss, especially when is combined with at least two cleaning, exam and x-rays every year. These create an opportunity to have a clinician take a good look around and alert us on any factor that can produce any degree of tooth loss or decrease the integrity of the enamel which protects the outer part of our teeth.

Q. What Causes Periodontal Diseases?

A. Periodontal disease has a very specific cause: Bacteria. How this bacteria gets to irritate our gums is an all separate story. Smoking and tobacco use are sure causes of periodontal disease, but non smokers get it too. When we do not brush and or floss, we allow for plaque to form. This plaque is a very fertile ground for more bacteria and when it forms at the gum line, the bacteria is not very kind to the gums which become irritated(Gingivitis) and progressively inflamed. When the inflammation reaches certain levels we define it a periodontal disease, which causes the gum to recede exposing parts of the teeth that are not protected by enamel, hence more vulnerable to external stimuli and prone to caries, cavities. Most importantly the bone underlying the gums will not be able to maintain a grip on the tooth, which could possibly fall out.

Q. Can Periodontal Diseases Be Prevented?

A. Certainly, but at the moment cannot be cured and only maintained. Once again home care and regular dentist office visit are our best tools to avoid for irritations to progress into full blown disease. Avoid smoking or the use of tobacco.

Q. How Does Plaque Attack the Gums?

A. Plaque does not literally attack the gums, it’s a little sneakier than that. It sticks to the teeth, and because we brush more than we floss, the plaque sticks more at the gum line and then piles up pushing against the gums which start to recede leaving more room for more plaque to stick and so forth.

Q. How Do You Stop Plaque Attacks?

A. Flossing is of course they never cliché answer to this questions. Luckily for the lazy flossers like my husbands, there are few more tools one can use to remove the plaque and help prevent the formation of more. Picks, waterpicks and other flushing and mechanical removing systems are great in removing the food particles that feed the bacteria that thrives on plaque. Also the kind of food we eat needs to be considered, sticky things will facilitate sticky plaque.

Q. How many times a day should I brush my teeth?

A. In the morning, after every meal and before heading to bed. Also how much time we spend doing this is very important. We recommend five minutes of manual tooth brushing, or two minutes of electric tooth brushing. Most of the latter provide you a timer that is far more accurate than counting in your head and really help get the job done. Let’s not forget a little scrubbing for the tongue and the inside of your cheeks at least once a day.

Q. What kind of toothpaste should I use?

A.  Toothpaste is very regulated and is a very safe product in general. Children should only use a toothpaste designed for children their age and approved by the American Dental Association. Most commercially available toothpastes are acceptable for adults. Many new natural toothpastes have come to the market offering safer, not necessarily more effective, pastes.

Q. How to contact Dr. Davis if we have further questions?    

A.
Address:
581 Boylston St.
Boston, MA
Phone: 617-353-1500
Fax: 617-437-8406
Email:frontdesk@drgeoffreydavis.com
Website: www.drgeoffreydavis.com