There are 3 little things you can do that will help keep your teeth in tip-top shape: Brush your teeth twice a day, floss once a day, and see your dentist every six months! These three steps are easy to do, and will help your teeth stay healthy throughout your lifetime.

Those three steps are also ones we have probably heard many times – from our dentists, from our parents, from other sorts of educational materials. But why are they so important? For one, they keep our teeth LOOKING great! Everyone wants a shiny, white smile! However, and perhaps more importantly, those three steps keep us protected against Gum Disease.

Also known as Periodontal Disease, Gum Disease is one of the most common diseases in our country, estimated to affect up to half of the population. The earliest stage is something we’ve all probably heard of at one point: Gingivitis. Early symptoms of Gingivitis are bleeding or swollen gums, and bad breath. This comes from food particles being trapped between your teeth and your gums. Without being treated, gingivitis can advance into Periodontal Disease. At this stage, your gums start to pull away from your teeth, leaving the structural areas of them susceptible to infection.

Fortunately, Gum disease is easy to catch early on, and if treated in the Gingivitis stage, will not cause long-term damage to your teeth. To make sure you’re well protected, schedule your appointment here at Finney Family Dentistry for a cleaning and check-up! We’ll make sure to keep your gums healthy, and your smile one you’ll want to show off.