You know good dental habits can help prevent things like cavities and gingivitis, but you may not know what conditions like these really look like or how they can affect your mouth. Use this visual guide to learn more about some of the most common dental health issues, symptoms to watch for and the potential treatments that are available. Please note: This content is for informational purposes only. Only a dentist, physician or other qualified health care professional can make a diagnosis. Gingivitis Gingivitis is the earliest stage of gum disease , an infection of the tissues around your teeth caused by plaque. If you have gingivitis, your gums may become red, swollen and bleed easily. You may also experience bad breath . Because gum disease is usually painless, you may not know you have it. You are more likely to develop gum disease if you skip brushing and flossing , use tobacco , have crooked teeth that are hard to keep clean, are pregnant , have diabetes or take certai...

There Is Hope! Most dental insurance plans cover the cost of treating gum disease. While in some severe cases surgery is the only reasonable treatment, there are now powerful NON-surgical treatments that, when combined with improved dental hygiene, can virtually stop the spread of the disease. Park Dental of Colmar   James H. Park, DMD 2200 N. Broad Street Colmar, PA 18915 (215) 716-7228 ParkDentalColmar.com

Many medical professionals consider obesity to be a chronic disease. It is well understood that obesity is on the rise in the United States, and that younger and younger members of our community are becoming obese due to poor nutrition and eating habits. Research has demonstrated that obesity will increase the risk for hypertension, type 2 diabetes, arthritis, CVD, respiratory problems, and endometrial, breast, prostate, and colon cancers.1 It has also been demonstrated in a recent research study that obesity also increases the risk for periodontal disease, and it may be insulin resistance that regu¨lates the relationship between obesity and periodontal disease.1  It has also been found that individuals with elevated body mass indices (BMI) produce a higher level of inflammatory proteins.1 The classifications of being overweight and obese can pertain to more than 60 percent of American adults. It is even higher for some high-risk populations, such as African-American women, placi...

Gum Disease Can Contribute to Heart Disease and Even Stroke Medical research has demonstrated that gum disease contributes to the onset of stroke, heart disease, and many other illnesses. This is a serious matter since heart disease is usually fatal, which means treating gum disease is critical to preserving your overall health.  The American Dental Association estimates that 8 out of 10 Americans have periodontal (gum) disease. Percentages this high should ensure gum disease would be handled as an epidemic. Because tooth loss is thought of as merely unpleasant, not immediately life-threatening, the severity of the disease has been ignored for far too long. However, things are changing.  The American Academy of Periodontology has distributed information that states, “Studies found periodontal infection may contribute to the development of heart disease, increase the risk of premature, underweight births, and pose a serious threat to people whose health is already compromised...