Many of us focus on having a good set of teeth. When you have a pearly white smile without any gaps or missing teeth, then you have great oral health, right? What about your gums? Have you taken steps to take care of your gum health? Taking care of your teeth and gums are essential to your overall oral health. Learn more about our: Dental Services
Why Healthy Gums are Important?
Your gums are as important as your teeth as without them, more specifically bone under your gums, your teeth would simply fall out. It is a common misconception that the roots keep the teeth in place, but in reality, your bone under the gums keep it in place. When you have an extreme case of gum recession, the tooth can get loose and easily fall out.
It’s not that difficult to take care of them. When you are brushing your teeth twice a day and floss at least once, it will be as healthy as your teeth. Also, don’t forget to visit your dental professional for exams and cleaning. However, when you fail to do these simple maintenance tasks, your oral health will dwindle. Over time, you’ll start to have gingivitis, and if you still don’t care about your oral health, you’ll get periodontists that will be prone to losing a tooth.
What is Gingivitis?
Gingivitis is a gum disease that is easily treatable. It is a condition that makes your gums inflamed, and it will be in a more reddish tone. It doesn’t have any detrimental effect on your health at first – this is one of the reasons people fail to see that they have gingivitis until it’s too late. If left untreated, your gums will recede, and the bones that surround the tooth can be affected. This can lead to tooth loss and periodontists.
The primary cause of gingivitis is the lack of oral health. If you do not brush and floss your teeth regularly, plaque will develop. This causes it to get inflamed.
Gum Disease and Your Health
Gum disease affects around 40 million American adults. It can also occur in children, but dental experts believe that this condition is more common and at a higher risk for people ages 35 and up.
Researchers believed that there is a higher chance of developing cardiovascular health diseases and respiratory infection when you have gum disease. Below are some of the explanations of how gum disease can affect your oral health.
Cardiovascular disease – When oral bacteria get through the bloodstream, it attaches to the fatty plaque. This then contributes to the formation of a clot, and it can obstruct the normal flow of the blood to your heart.
Respiratory Infections – Recent studies have shown that gum disease can increase the risk of respiratory infections such as acute bronchitis, pneumonia, and obstructive pulmonary disease. The infection can occur when bacteria from the upper throat are inhaled, and it goes down the respiratory tract.
Ways to Prevent Gum Disease
The good news is gum disease is preventable, and if you take these simple and effective steps you can most likely avoid it.
Brushing and flossing – When you brush your teeth, don’t brush too hard as it might irritate the gums — brush and floss at least twice a day. For even better results, brush them after each meal.
Mouthwash – A swish of mouthwash per day can help to prevent or reduce the symptoms of this disease.
Dental checkups – Visit your dental professional at least once every six months, or for healthier results, adhere to your hygienist recommendations. Your dental expert can help to treat the gum disease in its early condition and help to prevent it from escalating to a more severe condition such as periodontists.
When you look after your oral health, you need to be concerned about your gums as well. If the gums are healthy, it reduces the risk of developing gingivitis; therefore, your oral and overall health will improve. If related to gum disease etc Make an Appointment and meet our Periodontist Dr. Peter Refela. See more about our Periodontist Dr. Hai DDS.
Dentistry At Its Finest is the top Dental Office in the area. Learn more about us.