You’ve been putting off your dental checkup. Your schedule is crazy and it keeps slipping your mind. Your teeth look fine, so it’s not a big deal, right?
Actually, putting off those dental checkups could be putting you at risk for gum disease even if you don’t see any obvious signs of the disease.
What’s the big deal about gum disease?
According to the American Academy of Periodontology, the risk factor for heart disease could be twice as high for people with periodontal (gum) disease. In just the U.S., heart disease kills over 550,000 people - every year.*
With advanced gum disease, bacteria in the gums can travel through the bloodstream, which is the link scientists believe can directly increase a patient’s risk for a heart attack.
Gum disease is a serious medical condition that some people don’t even realize they have. Advanced periodontal disease causes obvious symptoms like:
• Inflamed gums
• Loose teeth
• Persistent bad breath
• Receding gums
• Pus pockets
While advanced periodontal disease might be easy to spot, symptoms of early stages of gum disease are more subtle; so much so you may have it and not even realize it. This is why daily brushing and flossing and a minimum of twice yearly checkups with Dr. Cameron Garrett in Langley are so important. Call us at 604-532-9040 today to schedule your appointment. Your heart will thank you!
Langley dentist, Dr. J. Cameron Garrett, was born and raised in Kamloops, BC on a small hobby farm. He grew up playing lots of sports and volunteering with a number of organizations. Due to his interest in the outdoors and adventure, he became a forest firefighter in the summer for 11 years. In the winter, he worked in welding and carpentry.
Alongside his many careers, Dr. Garrett pursued a degree at Thompson Rivers University, and it was here that he discovered dentistry. He looked into it deeper and realized it had all the components of a career he desired. He loved working with his hands and enjoyed the idea of helping people. Although Dr. Garrett considered being a medical doctor, it was the ability to combine his unique skillsets that attracted him to dentistry.
He then attended dental school at UBC, and after graduating, he worked as an associate dentist in Tsawwassen, Surrey, and Langley, BC. He then found a mentor in Dr. Cameron Garrett and has enjoyed working at our practice ever since. Together, they continue to help patients make positive changes and highlight the connection between oral health and overall health.
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