Now that you know the difference between a general dentist and a periodontist from our previous blog, take a minute to find what is involved with cosmetic dentistry and how it may help you achieve an even brighter smile.

So what is cosmetic dentistry?

While traditional dentistry addresses the health of your teeth and gums, cosmetic dentistry focuses on the appearance of your teeth, mouth, and smile.

Pocket Reduction Surgery

Now that you know well what periodontal disease is and what it can do to our oral health, let’s take a look at the option of periodontal pocket reduction as our secondary and tertiary care.

This is a normally healthy mouth from daily brushing and flossing. The gum is light pink and fits snugly around the teeth. Once plague and tartar build up on the exposed surface of the teeth, the gums will become inflamed and start pulling away from the teeth, causing bacteria invested gum pockets like the image shown below.

Did you know that gum disease can make it harder to manage diabetes?
If you have diabetes you are twice as likely to develop gum disease, and gum disease makes it more difficult to control blood sugar.

Keep your mouth clean and healthy:

• Brush twice daily with fluoridated toothpaste
• Floss every day
• Use a mouth rinse with fluoride
• Drink fluoridated water instead of sugary drinks

Eat a well-balanced diet:

• Choose healthy snacks, like low-fat cheese, fresh fruit, vegetables, and nuts

Get regular dental checkups as recommended by the American Diabetes Association.

Diabetes can lead to other problems in your mouth:

Some diabetes medications can cause dry mouth, a condition that can make it hard to eat, taste, swallow, or even talk. Dry mouth can quickly lead to tooth decay, especially at the gum line. Be sure to tell your dentist or physician if you have dry mouth. CALL 213.250.7554