Dental inflammation can affect your overall health. When you cut yourself and a scab forms, that’s an example of the inflammatory process at work. While your body is usually very adept at healing itself, there are unfortunately many situations where the natural inflammatory response actually makes a problem worse!
Inflammation in the mouth can begin a frustrating cycle that can’t be resolved without the help of a skilled dentist. Inflammatory processes in the mouth lead to:
- Tooth decay
- Cavities
- Gum disease
- Tooth and bone loss
As an experienced dentist, I want to educate you on the inflammatory process and how it can affect your life and dental health.
There will always be bacteria in your mouth. Eliminating all of it is neither desirable nor possible. Instead, what we want to do is help you maximize the healthy “good” bacteria in your mouth and minimize the decay-causing “bad” bacteria.
When the bad bacteria thrive, the result is damage to the tissue in your mouth. Your body responds with an inflammatory response, which is the beginning of the vicious cycle of tooth decay and gum disease. You can manage the bacteria in your mouth by:
- Eating a healthy balanced diet rich in leafy greens and low in sugary and acidic foods
- Brushing and flossing regularly at home
- Visiting the dentist for checkups and cleanings to remove built up tartar and plaque
