Redondo Beach Dental Group

A Look at the Different Stages of Gum Disease

A poor oral hygiene routine puts you at risk for periodontal disease. Bacteria festers and can eventually cause infections in the gums. Once infected, the gums become inflamed. If you do not treat periodontal disease in its early stages, you could lose your teeth or suffer other consequences. Keep reading to learn about the stages of gum disease:

Gingivitis
Gingivitis, the first stage of gum disease, is treatable with proper oral care. If you notice that your gums bleed when you brush or floss your teeth, you should make an appointment for an oral exam. Other symptoms of gingivitis include bad breath and swollen, tender gums. Your dentist can help you fight gingivitis and once again enjoy a healthy mouth.

Periodontitis
When left untreated, gingivitis eventually becomes periodontitis. At this point, gum disease cannot be reversed, but your dentist can help you prevent it from getting worse. Periodontitis occurs when the fibers surrounding your teeth become damaged. This often causes pockets to grow beneath the gums, which makes it even more difficult to clean your mouth.

Advanced Periodontitis
If periodontitis is left untreated by your dentist, your entire mouth will suffer. Advanced periodontitis wreaks havoc on your mouth, often ruining the gums that support the teeth. If you have advanced periodontitis, your teeth will most likely shift. If left untreated, these teeth might eventually need to be removed, if they don’t fall out on their own.

The dental team at Redondo Beach Dental Group in Los Angeles is here to help you prevent gum disease. With regular checkups and our customized Perio Protect services, you can enjoy a clean and healthy mouth. Take a look at our website or give us a call today at (424) 206-5861 to learn more about our services for periodontal disease and cosmetic dentistry.

About Orthodontic Treatment

Orthodontic devices help to straighten and align teeth. If your teeth are uneven or crooked, you can still have the perfectly straight smile that you want.

Start by researching your treatment options. In addition to traditional braces, alternatives like Invisalign can shift teeth into their proper place. Check out this video to learn more about how you can perfect your smile.

Come to Redondo Beach Dental Group to get the smile of your dreams. Our general and cosmetic dentistry procedures are designed to give you the smile you want. Visit our website or call (424) 206-5861 today to learn more about our services or to make an appointment. 

Understanding the Causes and Risk Factors for Oral Cancer

Oral cancer affects tens of thousands of Americans each year. Early diagnosis is often the only way to stop this cancer from spreading to other areas of the body. With one of the biggest death rates of any form of cancer, it is extremely important to understand both the causes and risk factors of the disease:

HPV 16
The human papilloma virus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted disease. The 16th strand has been shown to increase the risk of oral cancer, even in non-smokers. HPV is an extremely common virus with more than 130 strands. Although most of these strands are harmless, about 1% of people who have HPV do not have strong enough immune systems to fight it off. Research is still preliminary on the link between HPV 16 and oral cancer, but if you have HPV, you should ask your dentist for an oral cancer screening.

Chewing Tobacco and Cigarettes
Tobacco is still the largest cause of oral cancer. About 75% of people over 50 diagnosed with oral cancer have used tobacco in some form. When paired with heavy drinking, the risk factor for oral cancer increases even more. If you smoke or use chewing tobacco, especially if you drink alcohol, you have a higher likelihood of developing oral cancer.

Age
Oral cancer is a disease that is mostly seen in people over the age of 40. Because of the prevalence in cases of people in this age group, scientists believe that there could be some connection between aging cells and malignant growth.

If you identify with any of these risk factors, Redondo Beach Dental Group can help. Our oral cancer screening (Identafi) searches for signs of the disease to help with early diagnosis. We also offer cosmetic dentistry services. Call (424) 206-5861 or visit us online to learn more.

Learn More About Maintaining Healthy Teeth With These Links

Redondo Beach Dental Group offers quality dental care for your entire family. Our general and cosmetic dentistry experts can make sure that the health and appearance of your teeth and gums are the best that they can be. To schedule an appointment at our Redondo Beach office, call (424) 206-5861.

• Tooth decay prevention can help ward off costly and painful corrective measures in the future. DentalCompare.com breaks down how the CAMBRA system can be effective in the fight against cavities.
• Dental patients of all ages can also benefit from fluoride treatment for cavity prevention. WebMD.com discusses how fluoride can protect your teeth from decay.
• The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research explains periodontal disease.
• Could you be at risk for periodontal disease? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report on the symptoms that may indicate the presence of gum disease.
• Perio Protect can provide comprehensive care to deter the advancement of periodontal disease. PerioProtect.com describes why you may want to consider this treatment option.

What You Need to Know About Cavities

Though cavities may be common among dental patients, they should not be taken lightly. Dentistry experts have innovative ways to detect tooth decay early, but even when caught in its earliest stage, a cavity can impact your teeth and oral health well into the future. The following article offers important tooth decay prevention and treatment information.

Risk Factors
If you brush and floss as recommended, you probably feel confident that you are not at risk for cavities. However, you may be unknowingly engaging in behaviors that can increase your likelihood of tooth decay. Do you snack on hard candies? Is your beverage of choice fresh lemonade? Both the sugars in hard candy and acids in lemonade can damage tooth enamel, which may lead to cavities. Even chewing on ice can increase your risk for tooth fractures and allow an entry point for harmful bacteria.

Symptoms
Many people associate toothaches with tooth decay. Though these people are often correct, pain indicates that tooth decay has progressed to the interior of the tooth. In such cases, root canal therapy may be the only remedy. By scheduling regular checkups with your dentist, you can largely prevent the need for such invasive measures. In between dental visits, you should remain on the lookout for the presence of cavities. If you notice dark spots on your teeth, or if you suddenly become sensitive to hot or cold foods, make an appointment with your dentist to rule out tooth decay.

Long-Term Effects
Tooth decay weakens the tooth, so once you have a cavity, you will always be susceptible to future oral health issues. Tooth fillings must be replaced every few years, which may require the removal of more natural tooth each time you undergo treatment. That’s why cavity prevention is essential for your oral health. The less exposure your teeth have to decay, the stronger they will remain over your lifetime.

Redondo Beach Dental Group can see to it that you receive the most advanced preventative and treatment services to safeguard your teeth from cavities. Call our Redondo Beach practice today at (424) 206-5861 for an appointment. Our dentistry experts provide expert care at our friendly and comfortable offices.