Over half of all Americans are embarrassed by their smile.
One of the most common problems people face with their oral health is gum disease. Gum disease can cause bad breath, bleeding gums, and if left untreated for long enough, you could begin to lose your teeth.
The good news is that gum disease is incredibly preventable and treatable. If you can change just a few everyday habits, you can be well on your way to significantly improving gum health.
Read on to find out more.
How to Spot Gum Disease
Your mouth is a hub of bacterial activity. Within the oral microbiome, there are good bacteria and harmful bacteria. When this bacteria begins to build up, it covers your mouth with a filmy substance called plaque.
If left untreated, it can lead to infections that affect your gums and the bones underneath them, and this is what causes gum disease. Plaque is also one of the primary causes of gingivitis.
Symptoms of gingivitis and gum disease include:
- Swelling
- Bleeding
- Redness
- Inflammation
- Tenderness
If left unattended for too long, gum disease eventually advances to a stage known as periodontal disease. This is the most advanced stage of gum disease, and it decays the fibers and bones that hold your teeth in place. You may lose teeth if you suffer from periodontal disease.
Ways of Improving Gum Health
Thankfully, you can easily reverse any damage caused by the early stages of gum disease. It’s also easy to keep gum disease at bay as adopting just a few simple habits can help prevent its onset.
Flossing
Dentists aren’t always telling people to floss for fun. It’s an incredibly effective and essential tool for keeping your teeth and gums healthy. Flossing removes plaque that your toothbrush and mouthwash just can’t get to.
If you don’t floss regularly, this plaque begins to build up in hard-to-reach areas and can damage the gums. When you floss is up to you, you can do it in the morning, after lunch, or before bed, but try to make sure and floss at least once a day.
Regular Checkups
This one seems like a no-brainer, but one of the best things you can do for your gum health is go to the dentist regularly.
When you attend regular checkups, your dentist can log your oral health and find any problem areas. They’ll be able to spot the signs of gum disease before it becomes a big problem for you.
They’ll also be able to offer you a cleaning service to give your teeth and gums a thorough going over to make sure they’ve got rid of all the plaque they can find.
If You Smoke, Quit
Smoking really does affect every part of your body. Your gums are no exception. When you smoke, you’re deteriorating your overall oral health and have a significantly greater risk of developing gum disease.
Smoking will also make it more difficult for your body to fight off the infection, and once you’ve treated the gum disease, your mouth will take longer to heal if you continue smoking.
Use the Right Toothpaste
It seems like there are so many different types and brands of toothpaste out there, so it’s challenging to know which one is the best for your gum health.
As a general rule, you want to look for toothpaste that contains fluoride. You can tell whether it is a fluoride toothpaste by looking at the side of the tube. You should also look for the ADA seal of approval.
Stay On Top Of Your Gum Health
Improving gum health should be part of your daily routine. Flossing, cleaning, and lifestyle changes can stave off the potentially nasty effects of gum disease.
If you’re concerned about gum health and need a dentist for your next checkup, then contact us today to see how we can help you get your smile back.