Don't be haunted by a toothless grin.

• Position: Periodontics - Brief Article

Whether it is Valentine's Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Halloween, the trick to enjoying the treats is brushing and flossing teeth and gums after eating candy, cake, cookies, or any other holiday snack. This will help to prevent the onset of periodontal diseases.

"Maintaining a healthy mouth is not just a matter of a pretty smile," stresses Michael R Rethman, president of the American Academy of Periodontology, Chicago. "Research shows that nearly one in three U.S. adults aged 30 to 54 and 50% of adults aged 55 to 90 have some form of periodontitis, or more advanced stages of the disease."

Periodontal disease is a chronic bacterial infection that affects the gums and bone supporting the teeth. As the disease destroys gum tissue and bone, teeth can become loose and may have to be re moved. Warning signs include persistent bad breath; gums that bleed when teeth are brushed; red, swollen, and bleeding gums; loose or separating...