Gum Disease Awareness Month
February is National Gum Disease Awareness month! At Deer Park Dental, our goal is to inform our community about gum health to help our patients keep their natural teeth for a lifetime. After all, a healthy mouth makes for a healthy body!
In the spirit of National Gum Disease Awareness month, we’re discussing gum disease, including causes, symptoms, and top tips to prevent it.
What causes Gum Disease?
Gum disease, also called periodontal disease, is caused by a buildup of bacteria, plaque and tartar on the teeth and at the gum line. Plaque is a thick, sticky film that forms when bacteria is left behind on teeth and gums.
Plaque can start to build up and increase the risk of gum disease for a number of reasons, including:
An insufficient oral hygiene routine (most common cause)
Smoking or chewing tobacco
Nutritional deficiencies
Prescription medications
Hormonal imbalances
Family history/genetics
Symptoms & Stages of Gum Disease
Gum disease develops in stages, starting with gingivitis, then developing to periodontitis, then to advanced periodontitis.
Stage 1: Gingivitis Symptoms
When gum disease first develops, you may experience swelling, puffiness, tenderness and reddening in the gums, gums bleeding when you brush or floss, and bad breath.
Stage 2: Periodontitis Symptoms
In stage two of gum disease, you may experience receding gums, pain when biting or chewing, frequent bleeding, sensitivity in teeth and gums, loose teeth or wiggling teeth, and odors when flossing or bad breath.
Stage 3: Advanced Periodontitis Symptoms
With advanced periodontitis, you may experience persistent bad breath, swollen gums, a change in the way your top and bottom teeth fit together, exposed teeth roots and receding gums, blood on your toothbrush, and sores in the mouth.
Risks of Gum Disease
It’s imperative that you get gum disease diagnosed and treated as soon as possible to prevent associated health conditions or complications. Progressed gum disease can result in exposed tooth roots and gums pulling away from teeth, irreversible bone loss in the jaw and teeth falling out.
Research has also linked gum disease to health conditions such as:
Diabetes
Heart disease
Kidney disease
Alzheimer’s
Asthma
Respiratory disease
Osteoporosis
Cancer
Preventing Gum Disease: Top 3 Tips
Here are 3 simple tips to help you prevent periodontal disease:
Commit to healthy oral hygiene habits.
Developing small but consistent habits is one of the easiest ways to improve your health and prevent diseases. Make a habit of brushing your teeth thoroughly for a full minute in the morning and in the evening, and flossing in the evening. It only takes a total of 4 to 5 minutes a day to maintain beautiful, healthy teeth and gums!
Visit your dentist for regular cleanings.
Visiting your dentist for professional cleanings is essential for removing plaque and tartar that build up on teeth and at the gum line. As plaque builds up and hardens, it can’t be removed by a toothbrush or floss alone.
Your dentist has special tools necessary to scrape off plaque and tartar and prevent buildup. Your dentist also assesses your gums for inflammation and signs of gum disease and will refer you to a periodontist if they identify periodontal disease.
If you know that you’re already at risk of gum disease, schedule an appointment with us and we’ll develop an individualized treatment plan.
Simply attend your dental cleanings every six months or as often as instructed by your dentist.
Know the risk factors of gum disease and do your part to prevent/avoid them.
Do your best to avoid risk factors that are in your control. Risk factors such as smoking tobacco or chewing tobacco, poor stress management habits, having crooked teeth, clenching and grinding your teeth, poor diet and overindulging in alcohol contribute to gum disease.
You can also look into using a night guard if you clench and grind your teeth in your sleep.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any questions. We’re here to help you improve your health and maintain beautiful, clean gums and teeth.