Preventing periodontal disease
By the time people reach adulthood, their teeth and gingivae, or gums, have had quite a workout. When gums are healthy, they continue to fit snugly around the teeth. Many adult how-ever, develop some type of periodontal, or gum, disease—an infection of the tissues that support their teeth. Some researchers suggests, that there may be a link between gum disease and other health concerns such as cardiovascular problems, stroke, bacterial pneumonia and increased risk during pregnancy.

CAUSES
Gum disease is usually caused by plaque, a sticky film of bacteria that constantly forms on teeth. If plaque is not removed with thorough daily brushing and cleaning ( with quality toothpaste) between teeth, gums become irritated and inflamed. The irritated gum tissue can separate from the teeth and form spaces called pockets. Bacteria move into the pockets, where they continue to promote irrita-tion. Left untreated, the process can continue until the bone and other tooth-supporting tissues are destroyed. The early stage of periodontal disease is called gingivitis. It often results in gums that are red and swollen and may bleed easily. The good news is that this early stage is usually reversible. Sometimes, all it takes are more regular professional cleanings and better home care.

PREVENTION
Regular visits to the dentists and checkups are important. The dentist looks at many things, including the color and firmness of the gums. A very small instrument called a periodontal probe is used to gently measure the space between the teeth and gums. This determines whether periodontal pockets are present.

The normal space between teeth and healthy gums should be three millimeters or less. Generally, the more advanced the gum disease, the greater the pocket size. Except in unusual cases, you can help prevent gum disease by brushing twice a day and cleaning between your teeth with floss or an interdental cleaner once a day.

Avoiding tobacco use and other healthy measures, such as eating a balanced diet, are important in preventing periodontal disease. Even if you brush and floss regularly, you may not remove all the plaque, especially around the gumline. That is because of the low standard dental care toothpastes. Plaque can harden into a rough, porous deposit called calculus or tartar. Once hardened, it can be removed only in the dental office during your regular cleaning. If you experience the following dental problems, then regularly use Dentonic Flouride Toothpaste.