This Halloween season, remember to take care of your oral health! An excess of sugar, combined with poor oral hygiene, can increase a patient’s risk of developing problems like tooth decay and gum disease. Dr. Ray Becker offers oral health care and dental hygiene to his patients in the Columbia, MD area. Along with his professional hygienists, Dr. Becker can provide routine dental cleanings to keep gum disease and tooth decay at bay. Dr. Becker can also provide periodontal therapy and root canals to patients with an infection.
How Sugar Affects The Teeth and Gums
Poor oral hygiene leaves food debris and sugars on and around the teeth. Harmful bacteria eat the sugars left in the mouth and produce acids that eat away at the teeth and gums. Over time, bacteria can irritate the gums and lead to bleeding and gum recession. The bacteria can also enter the teeth and lead to tooth loss. Patients with moderate to severe malocclusion, or crooked teeth, are more at risk of developing periodontitis or tooth decay. This is because it can be difficult to clean the areas between misaligned teeth.
Treating Tooth Decay and Gum Disease
Periodontal therapy and root canals treat gum disease and a dental infection respectively. Dr. Becker may recommend surgical or non-surgical gum disease treatment options to patients. For patients with gingivitis or gum inflammation, he may recommend antibacterial rinses or scaling and root planing for a deep clean. If patients have diseased gum tissue that needs to be removed, Dr. Becker can remove them with a dental laser. He can also graft healthy tissue and reshape the gums.
For patients with severe tooth decay, Dr. Becker will recommend a root canal. When a dental infection reaches the inside of the tooth, it affects the nerves and blood vessels in the tooth chamber. Removing this diseased dental pulp, cleaning the inside of the tooth, and resealing the tooth prevent future infections.
Contact Our Dental Office Today
Schedule a dental appointment with Dr. Becker and his professional dental team online. If you are a new patient, call (410) 415-9013. Current patients of Dr. Becker can contact his office at (410) 730-4674.