The 411 on Cavities and Gum Disease

When it comes to cavities and gum disease, here are the essential “need-to-know” facts.

• The mouth is home to millions of bacteria. 
• These bacteria don’t need oxygen to live, so a moist, dark mouth is the perfect place for them to thrive. 
• Some bacteria along with substances they secrete form a sticky, troublesome substance called plaque. 
• Plaque is so soft and sticky that it forms a stubborn film on and between teeth and around the gums. 
• Like a bathtub ring, plaque needs to be brushed off regularly. If it sits too long on teeth and under and around gums, plaque hardens to tartar which cannot be brushed away and needs to be removed by a dentist. 
• The longer plaque and tartar linger around and under a person's gums, the more likely they are to cause irritated gums and lead to gum disease. 
•  The first stage of gum disease is gingivitis and is reversible with good plaque control. More advanced gum disease is called periodontitis and requires treatment by a dentist. 
•  Other mouth bacteria produce acids which cause tooth decay. 
• At first, the released acids break down tooth enamel by dissolving its minerals. At this stage, the decay will stop if the enamel is restored and the acids are put in check by good oral hygiene. 
• If the acid attacks continue unchecked, they can eat through the enamel and form a cavity, which then needs to be cleaned out and filled by a dentist.

Here’s the 411 on how to prevent cavities and gum disease: Call 310.659.5399 or click on this contact link to make an appointment with Dr. Stelmach today. 

Our Beverly Hills dental office is a full-service dental practice that is dedicated to creating, restoring and maintaining optimal dental health using a full range of leading edge dental techniques. I look forward to answering your questions and creating a personalized treatment plan for your specific needs. 

To your health!