More Smiles Dental Spa Dentistry Blog | James A. Moreau, Jr., D.D.S.

I heard someone on TV say today, "Knowing is the first step to healing." This is very true, particularly with periodontal disease. Sounds like a very boring topic, huh? But statistics show that about 80% of the adult population have some level of periodontal disease. Most are probably not even aware. Trust me, the people in their lives every day may be able to tell that something is not quite right by the distinctive odor that is detectable during casual conversation...persistent, pungunt bad breath. Not the "I had onions for lunch and it'll be gone tomorrow" kind of breath.

And periodontal disease left undiagnosed and untreated will only get worse and over time it will lead to gum tissue shrinking away from the teeth, bone loss and eventually tooth loss....not to mention the social consequences of "dragon breath" created by periodontal bacteria. THIS IS WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT to see a dentist who can accurately and thoroughly examine all your teeth and gums and give you a proper diagnosis. Once you KNOW you have periodontal disease, then you can begin the therapy that will help heal this disease. Make sure your dentist and hygienist are thoroughly probing all your teeth to check for pockets between your teeth and gums.