What Is Lurking Under Your Gumline?

Gum Disease Treatment Royal Oak

Hello Royal Oak! For ideal oral health, you need both healthy teeth and healthy gums. Proper oral hygiene helps keep both your teeth and gums in good shape.

When brushing, hold your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle aiming the bristle tips at the gumline. The bristles of a soft toothbrush can clean the food particles in the pockets in front and in the back of the tooth, but you need floss to clean between the teeth. Be careful to (gently) get the floss down into the pocket between the tooth and gum. Scrape food particles up and out of the pocket.

Back to toothbrushing: if the toothbrush is not held at the correct angle, the bristles can’t get in the pockets to clean out the bacteria before it turns into enamel-damaging plaque. If plaque builds up in the pockets, the gums can start loosening.

Eventually, the pockets will become too deep for your toothbrush bristles to reach. Unfortunately, the tooth structure below the gum line is more susceptible to decay than the enamel above the gumline.

There is more than one way to damage your teeth—even if the visible parts of your teeth are cavity-free, gum disease can cause dilemmas with the parts you can’t see.

We work with our patients of all ages to establish essential oral hygiene habits.

If you haven’t had a check-up in a while, or are experiencing gum soreness or recession, call Gustafson Morningstar Dentistry today at 248-541-8770 to schedule a thorough tooth and gum examination.

During your exam, Dr. Gustafson will measure the depth of the pockets around each tooth. If you already have gum disease, we will help you restore gum health.

At Gustafson Morningstar Dentistry in Royal Oak, we provide comprehensive general and cosmetic dental services including cosmetic dentistry and dental implants. If your teeth are stained and you want to brighten your smile, ask us about teeth bleaching.

 

Contact Gustafson Morningstar Dentistry:

248-541-8770

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

940 E 11 Mile Rd
Royal Oak, Michigan
48067

 

ArticleID 4592