MANAGEGUM DISEASE

REMEMBER TO ASK YOUR DENTIST ABOUT WAYS TO TREAT YOUR GUM DISEASE• HowfrequentlydoIneedtohavemyteethprofessionallycleaned?

• ShouldIuseaprescriptionmouthrinselikechlorhexidineorfluoridetoothpaste?

• ArethereotherwaysIcanhelpkeepmygumshealthy?

FOLLOW THE PREVENTISTRYSM APPROACHDeltaDental’suniquePreventistryapproachpromotesprevention-focusedcareformembers.WeurgeyoutoembraceourPreventistrypractices,too,by:

•Utilizingtheoralhealthtoolsandresourcesavailabletoyouatwww.deltadentalma.com.

•Usingyourdentalplan—DeltaDentalprovidescoverageformorepreventiveservicesthananyotherplan.

•TakingthePreventistryPledgeatwww.preventistry.com.

•Takinganactiveroleinmanagingyouroralhealth.

TALK WITH YOUR MEDICAL DOCTORDuetothepossibleassociationbetweengumdiseaseandothersystemichealthissues,weencourageyoutoletyourmedicaldoctorknowifyouhavebeendiagnosedwithgumdisease.

Gum disease can appear without any warning symptoms, and can be devastating to your oral health.

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Gum disease is often referred to as periodontal disease (an infection of your gums and jawbone) and gingivitis (a milder form infecting just your gums).

Both can become worse if not properly treated and can also be passed on to other family members. Many people don’t even know they have gum disease, because it can appear without symptoms.

WHAT CAUSES IT?Gumdiseaseiscausedbybacteriathatcollectinthepocketsaroundyourteeth.Thesebacteriacandamageyourgumtissueandjawbone,makingyourgumspullawayfromyourteeth,whichtrapsbacteriaandcanleadtoinfection.

WHAT CAN HAPPEN TO PEOPLE WITH GUM DISEASE?Withouttreatment,theattachmentofthetoothtotheboneaswellastheboneitselfcanbecomedamaged.Eventually,someofyourteethcanbecomelooseandmayfallout.Thisiswhyit’simportanttoprotectagainstgumdisease,because:

•Studiessuggestthattheremaybeanassociationbetweengumdiseaseandtheoutcomesofotherdiseases,suchasdiabetesandheartdisease.

• Inaddition,pregnantwomenwithgumdiseasemaybemorelikelytohaveprematurebabies.

HOW IS GUM DISEASE TREATED?First,yourdentistwillprobablygiveyouadeepcleaningtoremovethebacteriathatisdamagingyourgums.Yourdentistmayalsogiveyouaprescriptionmouthrinselikechlorhexidine,prescriptionfluoridetoothpaste,orothermedicinetouseathome.Somepeoplemayneedgumsurgery.Yourtreatmentwilldependontheseriousnessofyourgumdiseaseandhowyou’verespondedtoprevioustreatments.

WHAT CAN I DO TO STAY HEALTHY?Gumdiseasecanusuallybetreatedsuccessfully.Ifyouhavegumdisease,herearesomesuggestionstohelpkeepyourgumshealthy:

•Flossyourteethdaily.

•Brushtwiceadaywithasoft-bristledtoothbrushandfluoridetoothpaste.

•Visityourdentistatleasteverysixmonthsfororalexamsandcleanings.

•Useanyat-homeproductsyourdentistrecommends,suchaschlorhexidinemouthrinse,orprescriptionfluoridetoothpaste.

•Donotcheworsmoketobacco.

Tearoutthiscardalongtheperforationandkeepitinyourwalletasaremindertodiscussyouroralhealthwithyourmedicaldoctoranddentist.

REMEMBERTODISCUSSYOURGUMDISEASEWITHYOURMEDICALDOCTORStudiessuggestthattheremaybeanassociationbetweengumdiseaseandtheoutcomesofothermedicalconditions,including:• Diabetes  •Increased likelihood of premature, low birth• Heart disease weight deliveries among pregnant women

It is important to let your medical professional know if you have gum disease as you may be at higher risk for complications from these and other medical conditions.

GUMDISEASECANBETREATED,ANDPREVENTED.

OUR PREVENTISTRYSM APPROACH AT DELTA DENTAL GIVES YOU THE COVERAGE, BENEFITS AND INFORMATION YOU NEED TO IMPROVE YOUR ORAL HEALTH AND KEEP YOUR SMILE HEALTHY, FOR LIFE.