Looking after your teeth is, of course, essential, but you shouldn’t make the mistake of thinking that oral health begins and ends with them. A part of the mouth that sometimes doesn’t get the attention it deserves is your gums. However, failing to notice problems with them and not giving them the care they need can lead to problems just as severe, including tooth loss and infection. Here, we’re going to look at why it’s essential to take care of your gums, and just what you can do to look after them.
What is gum disease?
Gum disease is a term that is typically applied to two conditions. The first, and more common, is gingivitis, which is the inflammation of the gums in response to the infection of bacteria on the surface. There are differences between gingivitis and periodontitis, the more advanced form which is also known as periodontal disease. However, gingivitis is when the gums become inflamed and sensitive, which can lead to irritation and bleeding. When not treated, it can lead to periodontitis, which can lead to irreversible damage to bone and other tissue. As such, treating it while it is still in the gingivitis stage is typically the best course of action. But how do you know when you have the problem, to begin with?
Signs you might have it
How do you know that you should be concerned about gum disease in the first place? Thankfully, there are plenty of clear signs that you might notice. The one that most people tend to see first (and might often ignore) is blood when they are brushing their teeth. This is a common experience, but it’s not one you should ignore. Other symptoms are red and swollen gums, gums that are receding from the teeth, as well as bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth on a regular basis. If you see or feel deep pockets between your teeth and gums or you feel like your teeth are loose or shifting, this might be a sign of periodontal disease, which means you’re going to need dental intervention as soon as possible.
Brush your teeth right
Many of the steps you can take to both prevent and treat gum disease are the standard steps of oral health care that you should already be investing time in. If you’re experiencing symptoms of gum disease despite regular care, it might mean that you’re not doing it right or that there’s an underlying problem making you more at risk. Either way, you should see your dentist. Otherwise, make sure you’re brushing your teeth right, with anti-bacterial toothpaste. Two minutes of brushing, ideally twice a day (including after your last meal of the day) are enough. You should just make sure that you don’t miss any parts of the teeth, which an electric toothbrush can help with. You don’t need to brush super hard.
Flossing is just as important as brushing
A lot of people make the mistake of treating the act of flossing as an additional step, a bonus to go with brushing. That’s not the case. Flossing is just as vital as brushing your teeth and if you don’t floss, your teeth aren’t clean and your chances of developing gum disease remain high. There’s a lot of food that gets stuck between the teeth and you need to get it out to stop it from multiplying the bacteria in your mouth. To that end, tools like Instafloss can make it much easier to floss more quickly and work better for people who might have had trouble doing it manually. There’s no excuse to not clean between the teeth, you just need to find the method that works for you.
Consider the right mouthwash
While mouthwash might not be quite as crucial as brushing or flossing, it can still be a very effective step in the fight against gum disease. In particular, you might want to look at specialist products like TheraBreath mouthwash. In particular, you want to make sure that you’re using a therapeutic mouthwash, which helps to reduce plaque, slow the spread of bacteria, and even slow the development of tartar, which normally you would have to get cleaned with a professional cleaning from the dentist. It’s important to bear in mind that it’s not a replacement for brushing or flossing, however. Rinsing after a meal is great, but you should make sure that you get to brush your teeth at some point, preferably not too long after.
Regular cleanings are crucial
As has already been mentioned a few times, you really should be trying to fight gum disease with the help of your dentist as soon as you think that you might have it. Not only are regular cleanings going to be important to quell the spread of plaque, bacteria, and tartar, but the dentist can also make recommendations specific to your needs. Most importantly, they can tell you the progression of the disease and can tell you when serious action needs to be taken to prevent periodontitis. Going to the dentist can be daunting, but when it comes to keeping your mouth healthy, there really is no avoiding it.
It’s vital to stop it from getting worse
If you see any of the signs of gum disease as mentioned above, then it’s crucial that you do something to treat it while you still can. Gingivitis, as described above, can be treated but it can also develop into periodontitis. This more advanced form of gum disease can cause irreversible damage, which can include the loss of your teeth. As such, if you don’t notice changes when following the steps above, you have to inform your dentist and seek their advice.
Gum disease is one of the most common oral health issues affecting people of all ages. If you’re not taking the steps to prevent and fight it now, you can end up paying for it further down the line. Hopefully, the tips above help you in doing that.
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