Teeth might get all of the credit for your smile, but your gums are doing a lot of the work to make them look so great. Gums provide teeth with the foundation and blood supply they need to stay healthy and provide you with decades of chewing and smiling pleasure. Unfortunately, factors like bad hygiene or preexisting conditions can put your whole smile at risk by letting your gums become infected and inflamed. September is Gum Care Month, so your dentist is bringing you this list of interesting facts about gum disease to remind you about how gross, unpleasant, and insidious it really is.
Gum Disease Sneaks Up on You
When you think about oral health, you probably think of white, shiny teeth in a big bright smile. While yellowing and damage to the teeth can be easily visible to the casual observer, the gums are usually more hidden away by the lips. It can be much harder to notice that your gums are becoming distressed, and there are many instances where someone might be in the early stages of gum disease without showing any signs. Regular dental checkups are crucial to your oral health because your dentist can catch these early symptoms before they can blossom into a catastrophic tooth-destroying crisis.
Gum Disease is Contagious
You might think that gum disease sticks with one person, but this is unfortunately not true. Gum disease can be passed from one person to another during kissing or mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. This means that good oral hygiene is not only a benefit to you, but a courtesy to your loved ones and lifeguards. The transfer of gum disease is such a big issue that most OB doctors recommend that pregnant women have regular dental exams and cleanings to prevent periodontitis from being spread to the unborn child.
Gum Disease Threatens More Than Just Your Gums
If gum disease progresses from its initial form of gingivitis to its more severe form called periodontitis, the infection can cause damage throughout the body. While the bacteria in the gums can travel to other tissues to cause secondary infections like sepsis, the body’s autoimmune response to them can stress the cardiovascular system, leading to heart disease or heart attacks. Gum disease also stresses the endocrine system, leading to or aggravating diabetes. Since diabetes increases the risk of gum disease by hindering the immune system, dealing with gum disease and diabetes can turn into a vicious cycle.
If you’ve been questioning whether you really need to follow your oral hygiene routine so diligently every day, these facts should help you understand that brushing, flossing, and antibacterial mouthwash are all in your best interest. Your gums are absolutely crucial to the health of your teeth, and taking care of both of them can help preserve your beautiful smile for a lifetime.
About the Practice
White Clay Dental Associates has spent the last fifty years providing high-quality and affordable dental care to the community of Newark, DE. Led by Drs. Donald T. Bond and Timothy D. Ganfield, the staff delivers high-tech service in a friendly and welcoming environment that builds lasting patient relationships. Areas of expertise include general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry in addition to gum disease treatment. For more information on keeping your gums healthy, contact the office online or dial (302) 731-4225.