The month that has been dedicated to National Gum Care is September so let’s talk about all there is to discuss. This month is an excellent opportunity to reflect on your oral and dental health and make a resolution to take better care of your gums. We can sometimes forget that our gums are essential to keeping the teeth healthy and in their place. When our gums get damaged or infected, we risk losing our teeth, something that could affect us significantly for the rest of our lives. It isn’t even difficult to protect your gums from harm. All you have to do is make sure that you brush and floss every day and keep up with your routine dental inspection and cleanings. Doing so will allow all the tartar to be removed, and your teeth will receive the polish they require to stay healthy, while the inspection will catch any trouble that has been brewing up in your gums. The best way to ensure your gums stay healthy is by eating a balanced diet to receive all the nutrients they require.
The Two Main Types
The discussion can be broken down into two parts when we talk about gum disease. One covers mild gum diseases, called gingivitis, and if these are left untreated, they will progress into periodontitis, a much more dangerous phase over time. Both of these gum diseases are caused by bacterial toxins that lead to infection. In the stage of gingivitis, your gums will start to become red, swollen, sensitive, painful, and will constantly bleed. In the later stages, you can notice the infection due to inflammation in the gums, ligaments, and your teeth becoming loose. At this point, either the teeth will fall out on their own or will have to be removed due to bone loss.
Gum Disease – Gingivitis
If you see that your gums are constantly bleeding, have gum pain, locate sores in your mouth, or have bad breath along with an unpleasant taste, then we strongly advise you to contact your nearest dental clinic right away! These are all strong indicators of the early stages of gum disease, and since it is an early phase, they can be easily treated. Having your gums examined by professional dentists and receiving the appropriate treatment they suggest right away will help your gums stay healthier and sustain minimum damage.
Gum Disease – Periodontitis
If the initial phase of gum disease is left untreated, it will soon progress and advance into periodontitis, which involves rapid gum recession. This disease usually appears in young adults who have a growth spurt. These young people might be facing vitamin deficiency that helps in protecting the gums so that they might not get overrun by harmful oral bacteria. After the gum disease has advanced into the later stages because of periodontitis, you will now be able to see spurts of infection mixed with the treatment as you are treated for it. It is a common misconception that gum diseases only affect oral and dental health. Gum diseases impact your body’s overall health since it is a systematic diseases that will spread throughout your bloodstream and reach your other organs. This could result in inflammation-related diabetes, heart disease, and even autoimmune issues.
Ways to Defend Against Gum Diseases
To successfully avoid gum diseases, you need to stop the bacterial plaque in the mouth from leaving behind a sticky film of coating around your teeth that you can feel when you run your tongue across them. And this can be achieved easily by brushing your teeth two times a day for at least two minutes and, right after, flossing them. Doing so will remove the harmful bacteria and keep them from building up and becoming tartar. There is some tartar buildup that is unavoidable and will always form around your gum line, and this is one of the main reasons you should visit your dentist for a dental cleaning every 6 months. As gingivitis advances and your gums begin to recede from the teeth, bacterial plaque will harden into tartar in the pockets around the teeth. If this goes untreated, the ligaments and bone that keep your teeth in their position will continue to deteriorate until the teeth become loose and eventually fall out.
To keep your gums healthy and pink, use a soft-bristled toothbrush and toothpaste to strengthen the enamel. Remember that you should floss your teeth after brushing them and use an antibacterial mouthwash. It is a good practice to keep yourself hydrated to avoid a dry mouth, or you can chew sugar-free lozenges or gum throughout the day. If you have any type of diabetes, immediately quit tobacco use. Try to minimize sugar in your daily diet and consume more vitamin-rich and nutrient-dense foods like vegetables and fruits.
Gum Disease Treatment
If you have been experiencing pain and sensitivity in your gum, then National Gum Care Month is the perfect time to visit your dentist and make sure you don’t require any root canal therapy. Once the gum disease advances and becomes a problem for you, you might need to see a periodontist, oral surgeon, or endodontist who specializes in reversing the gum disease and restoring their health. Everyone has a beautiful smile; make sure you take good care of it!