{"id":828,"date":"2022-03-25T02:50:00","date_gmt":"2022-03-24T20:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fortdentaltx.com\/blog\/?p=828"},"modified":"2022-04-30T02:54:28","modified_gmt":"2022-04-29T20:54:28","slug":"gum-disease-and-facial-shape-in-fort-worth-the-relation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fortdentaltx.com\/blog\/gum-disease-and-facial-shape-in-fort-worth-the-relation\/","title":{"rendered":"How Can Gum Disease Affect My Facial Shape?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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You\u2019ve probably been told to brush and floss daily to keep your teeth clean and healthy. Along with visiting your dentist twice a year, these are mainly to preserve your smile as well as your gum health. Without proper preventive care, you could be at risk of certain dental issues, like gum disease<\/a>. But did you know this infection can also affect your jawbone and appearance? Read on to learn about the link between gum disease and facial shape, and how you can reduce your risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

The Development of Gum Disease<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection in the gums that is caused by plaque buildup. This can usually happen if you don\u2019t brush and floss your teeth frequently, allowing debris and deposit to collect around your mouth. The bacteria will initially cause your gum line to swell and pull away from your teeth, creating pockets between the two. If left untreated, this can progress to periodontitis, where the bacteria will be strong enough to destroy the connective tissues holding your teeth in place. Without treatment, this can lead to tooth loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Does Tooth Loss Affect Facial Shape?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Every time you chew with your teeth, they provide your jawbone with stimulation to promote healthy bones. However, if there are missing teeth, then the bone won\u2019t have the stimulus to maintain a strong structure. Additionally, any nearby pearly whites will begin to shift in place to fill in any gaps. This will both change your bite as well as risk further tooth loss. Eventually, the jawbone will shrink without anything to support it, giving you a more aged appearance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Can I Do To Prevent Gum Disease?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Since gum disease is primarily caused by plaque buildup, the simplest way to avoid it is to maintain a proper dental hygiene and healthy habits. Here are several preventive methods to practice:<\/p>\n\n\n\n