Protecting your oral health requires a good general understanding of what could trouble it, and how to prevent or defeat these issues before they significantly damage your oral tissues. As an orthodontist in Los Angeles, Dr. David Alpan takes time to properly educate patients about specific oral health issues, as well as discussing their viable treatment options to determine the best course of action. Today, we examine two of the most notorious threats to your smile’s wellbeing, which can be found among the plethora of oral bacteria that consistently inhabit your mouth.

The Cavity Germ

One of the most infamous mouth microbes is the bacterium Streptococcus mutans, which significantly contributes to dental plaque formation. Though sticky dental plaque can feel annoying, S. mutans real danger to your oral health lies in its ability to convert sugar and other carbs into acid, which weakens your enamel and depletes your teeth of minerals. After a while, this acid can irreversibly damage your enamel and allow bacteria to infect your tooth, causing tooth decay and small holes (cavities) to form.

Why Gums Swell and Bleed

Like tooth decay, gum disease begins with a specific kind of oral bacteria found in dental plaque. Formally known as Porphyromonas gingivalis, the gum disease germ wreak havoc by fooling your immune system to incite excessive inflammation. As your gums swell, they can also bleed when your brush your teeth, marking the first stage of gum disease—gingivitis. If not treated promptly, the infection can progress into full-blown gum disease—the leading cause of adult tooth loss in the U.S. today.

Keep Your Smile Straight and Healthy with Your L.A. Orthodontist

While controlling oral bacteria is always important, good hygiene is even more vital when undergoing orthodontic treatment. Your orthodontic appliance may allow harmful bacteria a few extra spaces to hide (besides between your teeth), and if a dental disease develops, then your treatment may be interrupted to deal with the issue. To learn more, schedule an appointment with Dr. David Alpan by calling our Los Angeles office at 213-513-7559 for a free initial consultation. Alpan Orthodontics follows a long family tradition of enhancing your family’s smiles.  For your convenience, we an office in Los Angeles, and Century City. We proudly serve patients across all surrounding communities.