Can you have healthy teeth and still have gum disease? Absolutely! And if you don’t believe us, just ask actor David Ramsey. The cast member of TV hits such as Dexter and Arrow said in a recent interview that up to the present day, he has never had a single cavity. Yet at a routine dental visit during his college years, Ramsey’s dentist pointed out how easily his gums bled during the exam. This was an early sign of periodontal (gum) disease, the dentist told him.
“I learned that just because you don’t have cavities, doesn’t mean you don’t have periodontal disease,” Ramsey said.
Apparently, Ramsey had always been very conscientious about brushing his teeth but he never flossed them.
“This isn’t just some strange phenomenon that exists just in my house — a lot of people who brush don’t really floss,” he noted.
Unfortunately, that’s true — and we’d certainly like to change it. So why is flossing so important?
Oral diseases such as tooth decay and periodontal disease often start when dental plaque, a bacteria-laden film that collects on teeth, is allowed to build up. These sticky deposits can harden into a substance called tartar or calculus, which is irritating to the gums and must be removed during a professional teeth cleaning.
Brushing teeth is one way to remove soft plaque, but it is not effective at reaching bacteria or food debris between teeth. That’s where flossing comes in. Floss can fit into spaces that your toothbrush never reaches. In fact, if you don’t floss, you’re leaving about a third to half of your tooth surfaces unclean — and, as David Ramsey found out, that’s a path to periodontal disease.
Since then, however, Ramsey has become a meticulous flosser, and he proudly notes that the long-ago dental appointment “was the last we heard of any type of gum disease.”
Let that be the same for you! Just remember to brush and floss, eat a good diet low in sugar, and come in to the dental office for regular professional cleanings.
If you would like more information on flossing or periodontal disease, please contact us today to schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Understanding Gum (Periodontal) Disease.”
Comments:
Find Us
Lawrenceville Dental Implant Center And Periodontics, LLC
Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
Request Appointment
Our office has flexible hours to fit your busy schedule
Patient Eductation
Archive:
- 2021
- 2020
- March (5)
- Prompt Treatment for Gum Disease Could Ultimately Save Your Teeth
- We'll Help You Maintain Your Oral Health After Gum Disease
- NHL Iron Man Keith Yandle Suffers Dental Trauma on Ice
- Don't Ignore These Signs of Periodontal Disease
- Periodontal Maintenance Can Help You Avoid Another Episode of Gum Disease
- 2019
- 2018
- 2017
- 2016
- 2015
Tags
- cosmetic dentistry (9)
- celebrity smiles (63)
- gum disease (74)
- tooth grinding (1)
- oral hygiene (26)
- gummy smile (2)
- wisdom teeth (4)
- porcelain veneers (1)
- crowns (4)
- periodontist (3)
- mouthrinse (1)
- orthodontics (4)
- braces (5)
- laser dentistry (5)
- Bone Grafting (7)
- aspirin (1)
- flossing (2)
- bad breath (2)
- periodontal disease (19)
- periodontal surgery (3)
- pediatric care (1)
- brushing (1)
- teeth wear (1)
- sensitive teeth (2)
- dental implants (10)
- gummy smiles (1)
- Gum Disease Treatment (1)
- Scaling (1)
- Root Planing (2)
- dental emergency (1)
- dental injury (6)
- athletic mouthguards (1)
- veneers (3)
- tooth extractions (1)
- cosmetic gum surgery (1)
- oral health (19)
- loose teeth (5)
- periodontics (1)
- dental cleaning (1)
- chipped tooth (3)
- mouthguards (2)
- gum recession (13)
- abscessed tooth (1)
- medicine (2)
- Periodontal Flap Surgery (1)
- thumb sucking (1)
- plaque (1)
- restorative dentistry (2)
- pregnancy (1)
- periodontal dentistry (1)
- bonding (1)
- x-rays (1)
- tooth decay (3)
- mouthguard (1)
- ibuprofen (1)
- pain management (2)
- tooth pain (3)
- toothache (1)
- mouth sores (1)
- Missing Teeth (2)
- loose tooth (3)
- pediatric dentistry (2)
- cracked mouth (1)
- oral cancer (2)
- blood pressure medications (1)
- retainer (1)
- oral surgery (1)
- marijuana (1)
- oral-health (1)
- Periodontal Health (1)
- Dental Cleanings (1)
- Regular Visits (1)
- nutrition (3)
- crown lengthening (4)
- smile makeover (1)
- smoking (2)
- extraction (1)
- orthodontic treatment (3)
- canker sore (1)
- gum surgery (1)
- lingual braces (1)
- dental injuries (1)
- root resorption (1)
- periodontal (gum) disease (3)
- Gums (1)
- root canal (1)
- root canal treatment (2)
- (1)
- Implants (1)
- teeth whitening (1)
- bone loss (1)
- teeth grinding (1)