Periodontist on Long Island Keeps You Healthy All Around

It’s common to hear your dental practitioner utter recommendations such as regular brushing and flossing to maintain a naturally healthy smile. What may seem less common is to hear these same recommendations for reducing risks to your overall health, however more and more Periodontist on Long Island are offering this very advice.

Research has long suggested a link between gum disease and chronic health issues such as heart disease, stroke and even diabetes for decades. It is the why that has plagued researchers but not anymore. More targeted studies have led to a new theory that it is the inflammation that may link the mouth and body.

Inflammation is your body’s natural response to infection or injury and aids in the healing process. The problem comes in when the inflammation becomes chronic. This chronic inflammation can eventually damage the soft tissue in the mouth.

Inflammation in the mouth appears to be no different than inflammation in other areas of the body. In light of new evidence dental practitioners no longer believe that gum disease is solely the result of a bacterial infection caused by a build-up of plaque. Instead they now suspect that the more severe symptoms of gum disease are more likely caused by chronic inflammatory response to the bacterial infection.

Killing Two Threats with One Approach

To stay healthy and keep that long lasting smile consider having a detailed periodontal exam completed so you can have a base point and know where you stand in terms of the current health of your teeth and gums. Then discuss what oral hygiene regimen is best for your situation.

While you wait for your periodontal exam you don’t have to waste precious time at home. There are life-long tried, and prove, techniques that help to prevent gum disease including; brush and floss twice daily, ensure you are brushing the complete surface of your teeth. On average it should take roughly 2 minutes to complete brushing when done properly, ensure flossing all surfaces of each tooth using the ‘c’ shape around each side of the tooth, and observe your mouth daily for unusual changes and have anything new looked at immediately.

As you move forward with your efforts to protect your gums be sure to consult with a Periodontist on Long Island by contacting Dr. Scharf. He can treat gum disease with a laser rather than a scalpel. Give him a call at (631) 661-6633 or visit him on the web at http://drscharf.com.