 Your gums are the first line of defense against infection of your tooth roots, which can quickly lead to tooth loss. Furthermore, periodontal health is a barometer of overall body health since gum infections can spread to other parts of the body and other health problems often cause gum problems.
 The number one enemy of healthy teeth and gums is poor dental hygiene. By taking good care of your teeth and gums from day to day, you greatly reduce the risk of all manner of dental and periodontal problems.
 Toothbrushes have been with us, in one form or another, for thousands of years. The more or less modern concept was invented in China in 1498, and the brush with nylon bristles so familiar to us today first saw the light of day in the 1930s.
 If you have gum disease or think you do, in any stage, you should not hesitate to see your periodontist for a "gum check up" and immediately begin, if necessary, the most appropriate form of periodontal treatment.
 We've all heard it a hundred times: you need to brush and floss regularly, ideally twice daily, to maintain optimal dental hygiene for life. But in spite of the general knowledge of the importance of flossing, only around 40% of US adults actually floss even once a day on average.
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