Gum disease is one of the most common oral health issues, but for some reason, it isn’t very well understood by most people. Having a baseline understanding of gum disease can help significantly with treatment, and can make preventing issues much easier. If you want to know a little more about gum disease, here are some of the most common myths about it, and why they aren’t what they seem.
Myth #1: Gum Disease is Not That Common
People may think they won’t ever have to worry about gum disease, but in actuality, it’s remarkably common. It’s estimated that over 67 million Americans suffer from some form of gum disease. Even minor plaque buildup can potentially lead to an infection, so it’s important to maintain good hygiene.
Myth #2: Having Gum Disease Means I Am Going to Lose My Teeth
At incredibly advanced stages, gum disease can lead to bone decay under the gum line, causing teeth to come loose. That said, you’d have to seriously neglect your oral health or have an unfortunate genetic abnormality for that to happen. So long as you’re diligent with your oral hygiene, you should be able to manage the infection before it reaches that point.
Myth #3: Gum Disease Can Be Treated with Antibiotics
It’s easy to see why someone would think this is the case; gum disease is caused by bacteria, so you’d think that antibiotics would be able to make quick work of it. Unfortunately, the mouth doesn’t work in quite the same way as the rest of the body; it can’t fight off infection to the same extent.
In fact, once gum disease has progressed to a certain point, it becomes irreversible. You can only keep up good dental hygiene and hope that the disease doesn’t progress any further.
Hopefully, busting these three myths has given you a better understanding of gum disease, and the importance of preventing it. In addition to good dental hygiene, you can talk to your dentist about what you can do to prevent these issues.
About the Author
Dr. Eric Tolliver believes that dentistry isn’t just about teeth; it’s about measurably improving the quality of life of the people in his community. He feels honored to be able to give his patients smiles that they can be proud of. Dr. Tolliver is a graduate of the University of Missouri—Kansas City, and once served as president of the Greater Springfield Dental Society.
If you have any questions about gum disease, he can be reached at his website or by phone at (417) 887-5757.