September is National Gum Care Month, and for many dentists this is an important opportunity to educate their patients. Everyone knows to take good care of their teeth, but many people don’t pay the same amount of attention to their gums. The American Dental Association has found that 42% of adults in the United States have an advanced form of gum disease called periodontitis; if this condition remains untreated, a patient’s teeth and overall health could be at risk. To avoid these life-changing issues, read on to learn more about why excellent gum health is important – and what you can do to promote it!

Many dentists and patients alike love dental implants, and rightly so. They are the best tooth replacement option that modern medicine has to offer. However, they are not totally risk-free. In rare cases, an infection invades the tissue around an implant and cause it to fail. What can you do to protect yourself from such an unfortunate outcome? Here are some keys to preventing dental implant infections.

Vacation has arrived, and you couldn’t be more excited about spending a few weeks away from the hustle and bustle of work and everyday life. A few days into your two-week mountain getaway, you’re struck by immense pain growing in one of your teeth. Understandably, you become frustrated that this is happening to you while on vacation, but what do you do? To help you navigate this type of situation, let us explain what you should do if you have a dental emergency while traveling.

Father’s Day is a time to celebrate the dads who work so hard to provide for their families. Sometimes, however, taking care of everyone else can lead to forgetting to take care of yourself. This year, it’d be a good idea to remind your own father that he also needs to be protecting his own health – and that especially includes his teeth. June is Men’s Oral Health Month, and you can celebrate by learning more about why men might need to be extra vigilant when it comes to their mouths.

It seems like every cancer has a month dedicated to increasing awareness about it. Oral cancer is no different, and April is the time to learn about this disease and about what can be done to reduce its impact. For example, did you know that your dentist can be your first line of detection for oral cancer and increase the odds of beating it? This month, take an opportunity to increase your oral cancer awareness and make an appointment with your dentist to have a necessary screening. Here are four facts that you may not already know about oral cancer to help you do just that.

Your partner complains about your chronic, loud snoring. You also wake up feeling tired and experience fatigue throughout the day. You know you should seek some professional help for your sleep apnea, but it’s not that big of a problem, right? Well, your sleep apnea could have a larger impact on your health than you think. Check out this helpful information about sleep apnea in Estero and how it can influence your heart health in the long term.

While it is still considered the “silent killer” by dentists today, gum disease is largely preventable. With regular oral care habits in place, you can avoid the worst side effects from this chronic condition. However, it’s important that if you notice the signs of gum disease, you don’t assume that they’ll get better on their own. The sooner you start adjusting your habits or seek treatment, the lower your risk will be of permanently damaging your gum and bone tissue.

For Gum Disease Awareness Month, learn how important it is to address gum disease in Estero!

Replacing teeth is always a good idea if you have the opportunity. Ideally, you should be thinking about replacing your teeth promptly after an extraction to prevent potential teeth from shifting into the empty space. But many people still don’t realize that they have options to consider. A dental bridge in Estero is ideal for some cases, but a dental implant offers a whole host of other benefits that you cannot expect from a bridge.

Consider the main differences between bridges and dental implants before making your final decision!

When we think about oral health, the last thing on our minds should be bleeding. But maybe you recently got back from the dentist and they told you that you weren’t flossing enough to remove plaque? If you’ve decided to commit to add flossing to your oral care regimen after skipping the habit for a long time, you likely noticed some bleeding in your gums.

Keep in mind that your bleeding gums in Estero are not necessarily a cause for alarm. Learn about the common reasons why your gums bleed when flossing and what you can do to prevent it in the future.

All dentists are required to complete dental school before they can begin treating patients independently. Even after graduation, they must attend regular continuing education courses in order to maintain their license. At Pelican Landing Dental, we go far above and beyond these basic requirements. Drs. Rich Gilbert and Lacy Gilbert have devoted themselves to furthering their education with the goal of making our practice the best dentist in Bonita Springs. We invite you to learn more about their accomplishments and the core values that motivate them to strive for constant self-improvement.