Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Your gums are just as important! Make sure they are healthy.



Keeping Your Gums

Healthy
 
 









Healthy gums are part of a healthy smile, and
you can take these steps to keep your gums healthy: 


·         brushing,
·         cleaning between your teeth with floss or another
interdental cleaner;
·         visiting your dentist regularly.
·         these are all important in preventing gum disease.


WHAT IS GUM DISEASE?

Gum disease affects the tissues that support your teeth,
causing them to pull away from the tooth. It can be
limited to just the soft tissue—the gums—or it can
progress to the bone that supports your teeth. In severe
cases, you can lose teeth because of gum disease.
Gum disease is caused by plaque. Plaque is a sticky
film of bacteria that forms on everyone’s teeth all the
time. This bacteria can damage your teeth and gums,
which is why it is important to brush and clean between
your teeth every day. Plaque can harden along the gum
line, forming a substance called calculus. Calculus can
only be removed with a professional cleaning by a dentist
or dental hygienist. During the cleaning, the dentist or
dental hygienist will use a special tool to scrape the
hardened calculus and plaque from along and beneath
your gum line.

Symptoms of gum disease include:

·         gums that are red, swollen, and bleed easily
(like when you brush or clean between your teeth);
·         gums that seem to have pulled away from the teeth;
·         constant bad breath;
·         pus between your teeth and gums;
·         teeth that seem to be loose or moving away from one another;
·         a change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite;
·         a change in the way your partial dentures fit.


Gum disease can range from mild to severe. Mild gum
disease is called gingivitis. The main signs of gingivitis
are red, swollen gums that may or may not be tender.
During this stage, your gums may bleed after you
brush or clean between your teeth. When the disease
progresses to the supporting bone, pockets can form
where more bacteria can collect. Any calculus that builds
up then traps plaque in these pockets. This plaque
cannot be removed by personal hygiene (brushing and
flossing).
More advanced forms of gum disease require professional
cleanings that go deeper below the gum line.
Sometimes the dentist will refer you to a specialist, called
a periodontist, for these cleanings.



HOW CAN I KEEP MY GUMS HEALTHY?

To prevent gum disease:

·         brush your teeth twice a day;
·         clean between your teeth with floss or another
interdental cleaner once every day;
·         see your dentist for an examination and a professional
cleaning regularly;
·         show your dentist or dental hygienist how you brush
and clean between your teeth and ask if you can make
any improvements; if you smoke or chew tobacco, stop.


Tobacco use increases the risk of gum disease.
Health conditions like AIDS or cancer, which reduce
your body’s ability to fight infection, can increase your
risk of developing gum disease. Some researchers also
have noticed that people who have diabetes often have
gum disease as well. Some medications, like antiseizure
or blood pressure drugs, can affect your gums, too. The
gums also are very sensitive to hormonal changes, such
as those that occur during pregnancy. Thus, it is
important for pregnant women to see their dentist.
Keeping your mouth healthy is possible with daily
care and regular visits to your dentist. Tell your dentist
about your general health, personal habits—like tobacco
use—that can affect your health, and medication use, in
addition to your oral health and hygiene habits. Give him
or her the big picture when developing a treatment plan
for you to help keep your gums healthy.












4 comments:

  1. Gum issues if not resolved can be a big trouble. I ignored it for a while thinking it will be alright in time. The pain started growing beyond my tolerance. At once, i started looking online for solutions and came across dentzz review. Trust me, the treatment worked and now I am void of all pain.

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