Before we get distracted and busy with the upcoming holiday season, September is when we highlight National Gum Care Month, shining a spotlight on gum health. Your gums are essential to healthy teeth and unfortunately, more than half of adults are fighting some degree of gum disease that destroys teeth, gums, bones and connective tissue.
Gum Disease Facts
-Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss and problems chewing food correctly to extract the nutrients in food to give your body what it needs.
-You can spread this contagious, disease-causing oral bacteria by sharing the same utensils without washing, drinking from someone’s glass or bottle, and open-mouth kissing.
-Gum disease is associated with heart disease, stroke, particular cancers, preterm birth and stillborn deaths.
-Gum disease doesn’t discriminate and everyone from children to seniors can suffer from this dental disease.
Harmful oral bacteria accumulate quickly in the mouth, every time you eat or drink something. This sticky bacterial film, or plaque, collects around the teeth daily and quickly turns into tartar or calculus, a hardened substance that can only be removed by a dental hygienist using the right tools.
Gum Disease Stages
1 – Gingivitis: Accompanied by inflammation, mild pain, bleeding, and plaque buildup. Gingivitis can be reversed using scaling and root planing and heightened daily oral hygiene care.
2 – Mild periodontitis to moderate periodontitis: Gum pockets form around teeth and bone and tissue loss begins and progresses quickly.
3- Severe Periodontitis: Marked by extensive bone and tissue loss with loose or lost teeth that will need replacing.
The sooner you treat gum disease symptoms, the sooner you can turn it around with stepped-up daily oral hygiene care and dental cleanings and exams. Of course, the best treatment is prevention. The goal is to keep your mouth as clean as possible so that your teeth and gums can stay healthy and strong. So let’s work together on avoiding gingivitis and tooth loss.
Practice Good Gum Care
Brushing at least twice a day, preferably using fluoride toothpaste and rinsing with an antibacterial mouthwash washes away food particles and lessens plaque buildup. Bonus: fresher breath! Flossing “brushes” the surfaces of your teeth that your toothbrush can’t reach, specifically, between teeth and below the gumline. If you have trouble flossing, a water flosser/irrigator is a great way to clean between your teeth to flush away dental plaque.
Something that is often overlooked when it comes to your teeth and gum health is diet. Eating and drinking healthy foods that give your body vitamins and minerals supports oral health. Limit sugar intake to keep your immune system strong and reduce inflammation and infection. Consume vitamin C-rich vegetables and fruits, Omega-3 Fats, dairy for calcium and phosphorus, and lean proteins for zinc to keep your mouth feeling its best!
Call Today!
Your Valley View Dental routine dental checkups are essential to keeping teeth and gums healthy in Romeoville, Naperville and Montgomery, Illinois. Give us a call at one of our convenient locations nearest you!