A healthy oral hygiene routine to protect and preserve your smile

Dentist examining patient’s teeth during dental hygiene routine in Mission Viejo, CA

Tooth loss never has to be in your future. You can maintain your smile’s health with a dental hygiene routine that includes daily home care and professional cleanings at the office of Mark A. Cruz DDS, Inc., in Mission Viejo, California.

What causes tooth loss?

The two leading causes of tooth loss are dental decay and periodontal disease (gum disease). Our mouths are naturally teeming with bacteria. These germs, along with mucus and particles, produce a sticky, colorless, and acidic film (plaque). This film keeps building up on your teeth. When plaque is not removed by brushing and flossing, the acids in it can attack the hard enamel covering of your teeth. As enamel is destroyed, the underlying tooth structure is exposed. Your tooth is vulnerable to further damage, including cavities and infection.

Your tooth may also be vulnerable due to gum disease. Bacteria produce toxins, which cause the gums that surround and support your teeth to become inflamed and infected. What starts as early-stage inflammation (gingivitis) can progress to advanced periodontitis, which breaks down the gums and the bone that support the teeth.

Are professional cleanings necessary if I brush and floss well?

Plaque can “hide” in nooks and crannies, such as the deep grooves in our back teeth or tight, hard-to-access spaces underneath the gumline. When plaque is not removed, it turns into a hard deposit called tartar (or calculus). This hardened plaque can only be removed by a dental hygienist or a dentist, such as Dr. Cruz and his team. Brushing, flossing, and regular cleanings at our office can help protect against tooth decay and gum disease and may even reverse the effects of early-stage gum disease (gingivitis).

It’s also important to know that many oral conditions do not cause symptoms early on, so you may mistakenly think your gums and teeth are healthy because they look and feel fine. During regular visits, we may find problems that would otherwise go undetected and untreated. Without treatment, they can progress and lead to the loss of your teeth and other complications from severe dental and periodontal damage.

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Can the effects of gum disease always be reversed?

Gum disease in its advanced stage, periodontitis, can cause irreversible damage to the gums and supporting bone. At this stage, the gums pull away from the teeth. The spaces between the teeth and gums can become infected. Plaque spreads below the gumline, and the bone and connective tissue that hold the teeth in place begin to break down due to bacterial toxins and your body’s immune response. If the infection is not controlled, your teeth may become loose in their sockets and may need to be removed. Advanced gum disease generally requires more extensive restorative and regenerative treatments to heal your mouth and build up tissues and structural support.

What happens if you find signs of gum disease?

Recommendations are based on our findings from a periodontal exam. Patients from across the Mission Viejo, California area have great trust in our recommendations because our dental team includes the expertise of board-certified periodontist Dr. Peterson. Periodontal treatment is generally completed in stages. We start by tailoring home care to your needs. Then, hardened plaque (tartar) is removed above the gums. After the tissue has begun to heal and inflammation has decreased, we may proceed with a “deep cleaning.” This service, known as scaling and root planing, focuses on removing plaque and tartar from below the gumline and on the diseased root surfaces. SRP also cleans the infected pocket between the teeth and gums.

The office of Mark A. Cruz DDS, Inc., encourages you not to wait until concerning changes occur to contact us. And if you have noticed increased tooth sensitivity or bleeding while brushing, do not delay in reaching out to us. Call (949) 661-1006 to schedule your appointment today.

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Dr. Mark A Cruz

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Mark A Cruz graduated from the UCLA School of Dentistry in 1986 and started a dental practice in Monarch Beach, CA upon graduation. He has lectured nationally and internationally and is a member of various dental organizations. He was a part-time lecturer at UCLA and a member of the faculty group practice and was past assistant director of the UCLA Center for Esthetic Dentistry. He has served on the National Institute of Health/NIDCR (National Institute of Dental & Craniofacial Research) Grant review Committee in Washington D.C. as well as on the editorial board for the Journal of Evidence-Based Dental Practice (Elsevier) and is currently serving on the DSMB (data safety management board) for the NPBRN (national practice-based research network.