Everywhere you turn, there are advertisements promoting a beautiful smile. There are countless ads showing people with brighter teeth using over-the-counter remedies. You also see very wealthy celebrities with picture-perfect teeth.
Despite the emphasis on sparkling white, straight teeth, there doesn’t seem to be enough ads devoted to the importance of healthy gums. Although this topic is often downplayed, it is essential to maintain healthy gums for several reasons.
Healthy gums are just as important as bright, white teeth and here’s why.
Healthy Gums Keep Your Teeth in Place
One of the most important reasons why you should focus on gum health just as much as a beautiful smile is that gums help keep your teeth intact. Severely diseased gums could eventually lead to tooth loss. Your mouth is full of bacteria, some of which are beneficial and some of which are not. The mouth is sometimes referred to as the oral biome, a place where both good and bad bacteria compete for space.
Unfortunately, because most people don’t take good care of their oral hygiene as they should, the mouth becomes one of the first places in the body where harmful bacteria start to dominate. As bad bacteria grow and spread, they also begin to damage the teeth.
As the years pass, this overgrowth of unhealthy bacteria can lead to periodontal disease, which not only harms the teeth but can also begin to damage other parts of the body.
Healthy Gums Keep You Healthy
When your teeth are healthy, chances are, you can remain healthy. However, poor oral hygiene will inevitably lead to long-term health problems. Unhealthy gums usually start as gingivitis, a condition in which your gums begin to swell and bleed.
If left untreated, it will eventually lead to gum disease, a condition in which the gums surrounding your teeth become inflamed and infected.
Gum disease can progress to advanced stages of periodontal disease, ultimately weakening the teeth and leading to tooth loss. However, periodontal disease doesn’t stop in your mouth.
Left untreated, this disease can cause inflammation that travels through the bloodstream and starts to develop chronic health issues, including problems with cardiovascular health, diabetes, stroke, respiratory issues, and complications during pregnancy.
Healthy Gums Keep Your Baby Healthy
It may be hard to believe, but bad gum health can take its toll on your unborn child. This is why it is crucial that you visit the dentist during pregnancy. Bad gums, which lead to periodontal disease, can affect the fetus by increasing the chances of a low birth weight for a full-term fetus.
It may even cause a baby to be born prematurely. Besides these defects, the presence of harmful bacteria in the gums could eventually be transmitted to the baby, leading to dental issues as the baby grows and develops.
Ways To Restore Gum Health
To restore your gum health, you must proactively reverse the effects of periodontal disease. Developing better oral hygiene is the first step in reversing the adverse impacts of bad gum health. Here are some ways to get back on track for better gum health.
Maintain a Daily Oral Hygiene Regimen
One of the most effective ways to maintain good gum health is to improve your oral habits. It is ideal to brush three times a day. However, if you can’t manage to perform this activity three times a day, at least make sure you do it in the morning and at night before bedtime.
Flossing is another critical way to improve your gum and tooth health. Be sure to floss after every meal and at night before going to bed.
Using mouthwash is also helpful, as it helps reduce plaque and bacterial growth in your mouth, especially at night while you sleep. Ideally, you should swish mouthwash around in your mouth at least twice a day.
Not only will better oral hygiene improve your gum health, but it will also help control bad breath. Also, don’t forget to replace your toothbrush every three to four months, as it harbors a significant amount of bacteria and can continue to spread infections in your mouth.
Eat Healthier
Eating better foods can also help improve gum health. Since the mouth is the first place bacteria grow, you can cut back on harmful bacteria by minimizing or eliminating sugary foods from your diet. Instead, rely more on healthy legumes, fats, proteins, and proper vitamins.
Have Regular Dental Checkups
Another way to ensure your gums stay in tip-top shape is to get regular dental checkups. Generally, it is recommended to visit the dentist every six months. However, if you are seeking treatment, it is best to follow your dentist’s schedule for dental visits, which may be more frequent than every six months. Keeping regular checkups will help dentists detect and treat any issues that may arise before they start to affect your overall health.
Get Treatment
Treatment depends on the severity of damage to your gums. One of the most common treatments offered for gum disease is antibacterial rinses, which help alleviate swelling and bleeding. Advanced periodontal disease may need much more serious options, such as oral surgery.
One option is laser therapy. This method is used to remove bacteria that infect the gums and encourage the growth of healthy gum tissue.
Another option is the pinhole surgical technique, which is used for patients who have experienced severe gumline recession. With this procedure, a dentist uses a needle-like tool to create openings in the gums and adjusts them over the exposed tooth roots. Your dentist will suggest the best treatment plans to help eradicate gum and periodontal disease.
Avoid Behaviors That Contribute to Gum Disease
Another way to maintain healthy gums is to avoid behaviors that can exacerbate gum disease and lead to periodontitis. Smoking is one way to speed up the effects of gum and periodontal disease. Therefore, minimizing or completely eliminating your smoking habit will have significantly better long-term effects on your gum health.
Put your Oral Health First with Dental Care Experts
Make your dental health a priority and it will improve the overall quality of your life. Call Sedki Dentistry in Commerce Twp today to see how we can help your teeth and mouth. Our full-service dental clinic addresses all oral health concerns including gum disease and receding gums, as well as restoring smiles with cosmetic dentistry, and the latest in dental treatments. Free Consultations.