While the teeth usually get all the credit for a beautiful smile, the gums also play several important roles in keeping your grin lovely and healthy. While almost everyone in America brushes their teeth with some frequency, far fewer people floss regularly. This is unfortunate since healthy gums are essential to your oral health and failing to floss can lead to a wide variety of nasty oral infections. Here’s a brief guide to why you should carefully clean your gums on a daily basis.

In 2022, an approximate 54,000 people in the United States were diagnosed with oral cancer, and about 11,000 Americans died of the illness that same year. Oral cancer can be a very fast spreading disease, and can appear in the lips, tongue, cheeks, hard palate, floor of the mouth, and even the gums. Where it is located and the type of cancer all play a role in how quickly it can spread as well as how survivable it will be. Squamous cell carcinomas are the most common type of cancer, as well as the fastest growing.

Because of the rapidity in which this type of cancer grows, early detection is key. But while it can be difficult to tell if you have any type of oral cancer, your periodontist provides regular oral cancer screenings at your biannual exam and cleaning appointments. Here’s why it’s important to see them regularly, and some important oral cancer warning signs that could save your life.

Are you tired of dealing with the drawbacks of traditional dentures? In many cases, it may be possible to switch to implant dentures, which offer all kinds of unique advantages as a tooth-replacement solution. However, before you start this process, you should make sure you fully understand what will happen. Here’s an overview of what you can expect during the transition process from dentures to dental implants.

Did you know that an estimated 58,500 Americans will be diagnosed with some form of oral cancer this year alone? To make matters worse, only slightly more than 50% of those individuals will still be alive in 5 years’ time. Unfortunately, issues like gum disease can increase your chances of having it.

Although it’s natural to feel shocked by such staggering statistics, your periodontist, fortunately, screens for early signs to help prevent this life-threatening condition during standard checkups. You can also reduce the likelihood of developing a problem by avoiding these three factors that can increase your risk. Keep reading to learn more!

Halfway through the year, you need a break. You need to fly away to a calm, beautiful setting where your cares can melt away, but you also would like to get dental implants. Wanting to kill two birds with one stone, you think you can fly to your get-away immediately after your implant placement so that you can relax by the beach while you heal.

Hold on! You may need to discuss the timing with your periodontist, or specialist who is performing your surgery. They can clarify if you should wait to travel and for how long. Why would postponing travel possibly be necessary? What is the commonly recommended recovery time for this procedure? What are some aftercare tips to keep in mind regardless of when you travel? Keep reading to find out!

Are you missing one or more of your pearly whites and currently considering getting dental implants to fill in your smile? Great choice! They can restore your smile and offer numerous benefits. If you’re feeling anxious about the upcoming surgery and unsure how to prepare, don’t worry—it’s easier than you think. keep reading to learn about four essential tips that will help get you ready for dental implant surgery.

Gum disease is one of the most common oral health problems out there. It’s estimated that around 50% of adults deal with the condition, which can range from mild to severe. It doesn’t help that the condition is also fairly complex, meaning that many people don’t fully understand everything they can do to keep this bacterial infection at bay.

While dental hygiene is obviously critically important, there are also some important ways in which your diet can impact your propensity for gum disease. Here are some foods that might help you keep this condition at bay.

Gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease. It may not seem like a major issue at first, but if it is left alone for too long, it can eventually turn into a grave threat to your oral health. As such, it’s important to be able to recognize the warning signs of gingivitis. Below is a brief look at the symptoms linked to early gum disease as well as steps you can take to have the problem diagnosed and treated.

Like many, you may think only teeth matter to oral health. That’s a common view – pearly whites often attract the most attention. Still, it’s best to monitor your gum tissue as well. You might develop little pockets in them if you aren’t careful. Should that happen, you’ll need proper dental care from a pro. Luckily, your Colorado Springs dentist can assist with this issue. Here’s a primer on periodontal pockets and how to treat them.

What images come to mind when you think about tooth extraction? If you’re like many people, especially those who are anxious about going to the dentist, you may think about a giant pair of pliers grabbing your tooth and the pain that will surely follow. Rest assured, though, this is not how extractions are performed.

If you’re curious to learn the truth about extractions and debunk some of the common myths surrounding them, continue reading.