Poor dental hygiene not only harms your teeth but your gums as well. Periodontitis and gingivitis are gum diseases caused mostly due to poor dental care. These are serious infections that destroy the gum tissues and the bones connected to your teeth. According to CDC, periodontitis affect half of Americans aged 30 or above, i.e. around 64.7 million USA citizens suffer from this disease. But you don’t need to worry as it is a preventable condition. We are here to make you aware of the vital information regarding gum disease, which you must know.Leading causes of Gum diseases like gingivitis and periodontitis are –
Leading causes of Gum diseases like gingivitis and periodontitis are –
Hormonal Changes
Illnesses
Bad Habits
Poor Oral Hygiene Habits
Family History of Dental Disease
Following are the common signs & symptoms that indicate that you might have a Gum disease –
Pus in gums
Difficulty or pain in the bite
Bad breadth not going away even after brushing
Weak & loose teeth
Bleeding of gums while brushing or flossing
Pain in teeth or gums
Sensitivity in teeth
Gums getting disconnected from teeth
Swollen and tender gums with redness
Your regular denture not fitting anymore
The prevention of gingivitis and periodontitis largely depends on the kind of dental care you take. Follow the below mentioned healthy practices to keep your gums and teeth healthy :
Brush at least twice daily for at least 2 minutes. Brushing is essential for maintaining healthy gums & enamel. Don’t forget to get full coverage of your mouth while brushing. It will be better if you can use fluoride-enriched toothpaste.
There are places where your toothbrush can’t reach. Use floss for those places where the plaque hides. Floss at least once a day after brushing your teeth. It will be even better if you can use a mouth wash after brushing and flossing.
You need to take a balanced diet for healthy gums and enamel. Foods containing too much starch and sugar are harmful to your oral health. These foods increase plaque generation in your mouth. Eat lots of vitamins & minerals for healthy gums.
Smoking causes cancer. This sentence might not be new to you. But you might not be aware that along with damaging your lungs, smoking and tobacco cause harm to your gums as well. It can lead to oral cancer.
Watch out for the medications you are taking. Some medicines bring gum infections with them as a side effect. Try not to take prolonged doses of contraceptive pills, heart medicines, and antidepressants.
Don’t underestimate issues like teeth grinding, crowded tooth, underbite, overbite, uneven filing of teeth, etc. These issues create room for plaque generation and injure your gums to cause infections.
Role of Your Dentist in Preventing Gum Diseases
We would recommend you to visit your dentist for a dental check-up regularly. They can perform a deep cleaning of your teeth and gums through their equipment. Apart from brushing and flossing regularly, this periodic cleaning by the dentist will benefit your oral health.
During your visit to the dentist, you should ask various questions regarding dental care. Tell them if you are feeling any of the symptoms mentioned above of gum disease. If they can diagnose the symptoms early, your treatment can be easier and cheaper.
Key Takeaway
According to the data, many Americans are at the risk of getting gingivitis or periodontitis. And the risk increases if anyone in your family has a history of these gum infections. The best way to avoid gum diseases is to be aware of its causes, symptoms, preventive dental care, and regular dental check-ups. And you should also not forget to take a diet full of vitamins & minerals for healthy gums.
Author Bio
Dr. Anu Isaac, DMD, runs a successful dental practice in Salem, MA. Dr. Isaac strives for quality on a daily basis and this commitment to quality is reflected in her constant pursuit of advanced training. Her firm belief that even experts need to stay updated about what’s new in the dental field, enables her to provide every patient with optimal oral care. As the founder of Coral Dental Care, she is dedicated to creating healthy, beautiful smiles for her patients and also to educating dental and non-dental communities with her engaging articles on all things related to oral health, recent dental innovations, and latest treatment modalities.
