Page 73 - Dockside Magazine Muskoka, Summer/Fall 2018

Gum
PHOTOGRAPHY BY SCOTT TURNBULL
battle
Cavities are not the number-one reason for tooth loss
Cavities are often portrayed as scary monsters most
responsible for tooth loss; but there’s an even more evil perpetrator attacking your dentine – gum disease.
While cavities are no saints and will cause tooth decay, gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss.
“Gum disease has two main categories,” says Dr. Chris Pearce, owner of Main Street Dental in Huntsville. “The reversible gingivitis and the irreversible periodontitis.”
Catching gum disease at the gingivitis stage – prior to it morphing into periodontitis – is a relatively easy task.
At the beginning stages, gums become inflamed due to plaque build-up on teeth and gums. Your body will recognize this and attempt
to fight it by sending white blood cells into your gums.
“If your gums start to bleed, it’s a recognizable sign of gingivitis,” says Dr. Pearce. “Proper dental care such as brushing at a 45-degree angle for optimum results and carefully flossing with an up- and-down C-shape motion can eliminate the plaque. A little bleeding during this process is okay.”
He also recommends rinsing with Listerine after brushing and flossing. It will kill the bacteria. By continuing this process daily, the gingivitis can be gone within a few days.
Then it’s a matter of keeping up on your daily dental care such as brushing at least twice a day and flossing at least once a day.
“If gingivitis is left untreated for too long, it will cause periodontitis,” says Dr. Pearce. “This happens
when the plaque turns into
a cement-like substance called calculus – and just like math problems, no one likes calculus.”
While jesting to make his point, Dr. Pearce is serious about avoiding periodontitis – a disease which causes the bone around your teeth to retreat. The longer it’s left untreated, the more bone is lost. Eventually new bacteria enter the fray, and these are the main cause of halitosis – bad breath.
“Once plaque becomes calculus, a tooth brush will no longer remove it,” he warns. “At this point, only your
dental hygienist can remove the calculus using dental instruments.”
Welcoming atmosphere
Combining good dental care habits with regular visits to the Main Street Dental team can prevent both gingivitis and periodontitis. The dentistry provides a welcoming atmosphere while combining old-school dedication to continuity of care with new school creature comforts.
Dr. Pearce greets and treats every patient who comes through the door, while there is a Playstation in the waiting room and Netflix-connected TVs on the ceiling in the examining rooms.
“We take pride in having patients meet with the same dentist and dental hygienist each visit,” says Dr. Pearce. “And our patients appreciate the fact we treat them like people, not numbers.” DS
BY CHRIS OCCHIUZZI
Dr. Chris Pearce, Owner of Main Street Dental
Dr. Christopher Pearce, BS, DDS 3A Main Street West, Huntsville 705-788-0404 www.MuskokaDentistry.com