The most common chronic disease affecting American children is tooth decay, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC also reports that about 47.2% of adults age 30 and older have periodontitis. These facts reveal what we always tell our patients, that oral health is important at any age.
Our dentist in Kalamazoo, MI welcomes patients of all ages. Our team wants to make sure that you develop good oral hygiene habits that will protect your teeth and gums for a lifetime.
Babies
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends you take your child to the dentist within 6 months of them getting their first tooth or by their first birthday.
Introducing your child to the dentist early is important to develop a foundation of trust and familiarity. This sets them up for the best long-term relationship with their dentist.
We’ll teach you and your child how they can maintain healthy smiles for life. We would be more than happy to help your child build a strong foundation for good oral health.
Children
Dental plaque is an invisible film of bacteria that lives in your child’s mouth, feeding on any sugar left behind. Plaque also likes to hide where your toothbrush can’t reach. For example, cavities are more likely to form in the small cracks and divots on the chewing surface of your child’s molars.
A dental sealant is a thin plastic coating that seals small cracks and divots in a back tooth. What’s more, our dentist can apply sealants during your child’s next teeth cleaning with us. The procedure is fast, painless, and helps in the long run.
Teenagers to Young Adults
Wisdom teeth (third molars) erupt between the ages of 17 and 25. During your teen’s appointment, we’ll take x-rays to get a better look at their wisdom teeth as they form in the jawbone. We may recommend extracting wisdom teeth if they are coming in at an angle or if your child simply doesn’t have enough room in their jaw to accommodate the extra teeth. Not every person needs to have the wisdom teeth removed.
Mature Adults
Do you have sore, bleeding gums? If so, let our family dentist and team know so they can help you avoid the more serious . While gingivitis is reversible through good oral hygiene, the same can’t be said once it progresses into periodontitis.
47.2% of adults age 30 and older have periodontitis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Like we mentioned earlier, periodontitis is the advanced form of gum disease. It also can’t be reversed.
Once you have periodontitis, the only thing we can do for you is help manage your symptoms so they don’t worsen. We offer scaling and root planing aka “deep cleaning” to remove plaque that gets caught in deep gum pockets around your teeth.
Teeth are supported by your gums, jawbone, and other teeth. That is why it is important to pay attention to your oral health. Once you lose a tooth or develop gum disease, you increase your risk of further tooth loss. The best way to prevent these issues is to brush your teeth twice a day, floss once daily, and see our dentist at least every 6 months.
Call Gentle Dentistry Today!
Our dentist in Kalamazoo, MI is accepting new patients! To request an appointment with Gentle Dentistry, call (269) 381-3890. We hope to hear from you soon!
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This blog post has been updated.