Snow-white teeth and a sizzling smile are good to look at. However, your oral health is more than that. Gum disease can make you lose your smile and teeth, affecting your oral and general health. The good news is, the infection is reversible and preventable. According to Ueno Center Dental Specialists, besides brushing, flossing, and rinsing your mouth with mouthwash, going for a comprehensive periodontal evaluation can help save your teeth. During the dental assessment, your dentist may look at your plaque levels, bone structure, gums, bite and teeth, and other potential risks that may lead to gum disease.
How important are your gums?
Your mouth’s optimal health is not only about how straight or white your teeth are. Having cavity-free teeth and a bright smile does not make you immune to gum infections. Since gum diseases are usually painless, you might have an abscess without knowing. Gum hygiene is crucial for both your dental and overall health. Blood vessels running through your body are also present in your gums. Therefore, the possibility of gum disease might result in the infection spreading to your entire body.
How does gum disease affect your oral health?
Gum infection begins when bacteria grow in your mouth, slowly building up along your gum line. Plaque hurts your bone and gum, causing you to have tooth decay or periodontitis. Plaque buildup also causes gingivitis, which will likely affect your gums, making them inflamed, tender, swollen, and causing them to bleed when you brush your teeth.
Unfortunately, periodontitis might cause tooth loss when you fail to contact your dentist for medical assistance. Warning signs indicating that you might have periodontal disease include:
- A consistent bad taste in your mouth
- Swollen and tender gums
- Loose teeth
- Gums that pull away from your teeth
- Bleeding gums
How different is gum disease from gingivitis?
Gingivitis or gum inflammation is likely to happen before you develop gum disease. Though most people get gingivitis at some point, the condition’s mild symptoms might make you ignore the dental issue. However, failure to treat gingivitis may lead to adverse oral conditions. Fortunately, you can reverse or prevent gum disease by observing oral hygiene, regular dental cleaning, and contacting your dentist for dental checkups.
In the early gingivitis stages, bacteria in the plaque causes inflammation of your gums, forcing your gums to bleed when you brush. Though you might experience gum irritation, there is no loosening of teeth in this stage. Thus, your teeth are still intact in their sockets without bone or tissue damage.
On the other hand, your gum and bone’s inner layers will likely pull away from your teeth and form pockets when you have periodontitis. The pockets eventually collect debris that may infect your gums over time. As the infection progresses, the debris collecting pockets deepen, destroying your gum tissue and bone. Ultimately, your teeth become loose and fall out.
Early diagnosis and treatment of gingivitis may prevent you from developing gum disease. However, upholding healthy dental practices like flossing, brushing, going for regular dental cleanings, and using fluoride toothpaste might minimize your chances of losing your teeth. Contact your dentist to know how you can save your oral health.