Timothy J. McNamara, DDS Tooth decay and periodontal disease are two of the main conditions that affect our dental health.
Most people have a good knowledge of tooth decay.
We know that to prevent decay, it is important to brush our teeth and watch the sweets in our diet. We know that a tooth that has a cavity needs to have it cleaned out and a filling placed. We are aware of the role that fluoride plays in preventing tooth decay. And we know that an untreated cavity can lead to a toothache. Many people, however, are surprised to learn that more teeth are lost to periodontal disease than to tooth decay.