Thursday, June 30, 2011

Are Your Gum Measurements Lucky Numbers?

We see numbers everywhere, every day. There are lottery numbers, lucky numbers, sleep number beds, ages, addresses, and phone numbers. Your gums have numbers too. When you visit our office, Dr Johnson or the hygienist will exam your gums and measure the "pocket depth" and call out a bunch of numbers. We do this every visit on every adult. Why do we think this is so important? Well if your gum measurements are  1-3mm, you are doing a good job cleaning your teeth on a regular basis. If they are 4-5mm, you have some work to do. You need to go get new floss and interdental cleaners; and, then get busy changing your oral hygiene routines. If the numbers are 6mm or above, you have a problem. At this point , tartar has built up and hardened. Many times it is well below the gum line. This means, even if you started brushing and flossing like crazy, you won't be able to remove it. This "plug" of calculus is
trapping bacteria in your gums. If the numbers are about about 7 or 8 , you may already be in danger of losing your teeth due to bone loss.

So, you see, regular visits to the dentist really is important. Some people seem to be  genetically programmed to build up plaque and calculus and require cleanings 3-4 times per year. Some can get by with 2 times per year. The important thing is to find out what your numbers are!

Call us today to make your cleaning appointment. If you are looking for a dentist, we welcome you to see what our patients think of us. Our patient testimonials are available for review.

Brian Johnson DMD
Family and Cosmetic Dentistry
1240 Upper Hembree Road
Suite C
Roswell, GA 30076
(770)993-9809
http://www.brianjohnsondmd.com/

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