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Keeping your teeth for your lifetime is not only possible, it's probable, if you know what steps to take.

The key to keeping your teeth is keeping your gums healthy.

Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss, especially among adults aged 65 and older. It's a serious condition that affects millions of men, women, and children throughout the world.

In its mildest form, gingivitis, gum disease can be easily treated. By simply maintaining a proper brushing and flossing routine and visiting your dental hygienist for regular cleanings (every 6 months), you can keep gingivitis under control and even eliminate it all together.

If gingivitis goes untreated, it can progress into periodontitis, a serious form of gum disease.

Periodontitis is caused by a severe build-up of bacteria on the teeth and along the gum line that eventually results in bone loss in the bone that supports the teeth. As this bone deteriorates, teeth can become loose and fall out.

According to the Journal of Periodontology, you are at an increased risk of losing your teeth to periodontitis if you are:

• Aged 35 and older
• Male
• Avoiding professional dental care
• Not using a toothbrush
• A smoker
• Suffering from diabetes
• Suffering from high blood pressure
• Suffering from rheumatoid arthritis

So, how do you keep your gums healthy? Regular visits to the dental hygienist. With state-of-the-art technology, including ultrasonic scalers and soft tissue lasers, as well as advanced medications, including antibiotics just for gum disease, your dental hygienist can reduce the ill-effects of gum disease. If you begin regular treatment early enough, the disease may even be reversed!

Keep your teeth for your lifetime. See your hygienist every 6 months.