Maintaining healthy gums is the foundation of good oral health – but that’s not all. In fact, poor gum health has been found to have a profound effect on your physical health, with researchers finding links to even more serious health issues.

To ensure that you take care of your gums, your overall health, and to keep your smile looking its best, we’ve written this short article to summarise the importance of gum health. As a premium dental clinic combined with a team of thoughtful experts, we want to help you better understand the causes of poor gum health, how it can impact you and how you can prevent it.

Keep reading to learn from the team of dentists and specialists at The Dental Boutique.

What is gum disease?

Gum disease (formerly known as periodontitis) is a chronic inflammatory response to the build-up of plaque and calculus that is formed under the teeth on the gum line. Plaque is regularly formed in the mouth due to the combination of the bacteria mixing with sugar and food particles, which is why it’s incredibly important to brush your teeth and floss regularly to prevent the formation of plaque.

Are there different types of gum disease?

Though there are not necessarily different ‘types’ of gum disease, there are different stages of the disease – gingivitis and periodontitis.

Gingivitis is the early stage of gum disease which affects only the surface layers of the gum, rather than the teeth, bone or deeper parts of the gum.

Symptoms:

• Redness and inflamed gums
• Bleeding gums (particularly during brushing or eating

It’s important that you don’t stop brushing if you’re dealing with bleeding or puffy gums – in fact, brushing with a soft toothbrush will remove the unwanted plaque and bacteria that has caused the problem to begin with. However, if your gums don’t noticeably improve, seek your dentist or oral specialist for premium dental care.

Periodontitis is advanced gum disease and occurs when gingivitis has been left untreated for some time. This stage is far more stressful on the body, as the structures that hold the tooth firmly into the gum become so soft and damaged that the teeth become loose and either fall out or must be removed.

How can I prevent gum disease?

Avoid gum disease by brushing your teeth twice a day – and don’t forget to floss daily or use mouthwash!  Be sure to move the head of the brush along the gum line so that the bristles can work their way beneath the gums to remove the plaque efficiently. There are several lifestyle choices that you can make to better prevent gum disease such as not smoking, consuming a nutritious diet with minimal sugar and alcohol, and drinking plenty of water.

The consequences of poor gum health

Good oral hygiene is a hugely vital component to your overall health and wellbeing. In fact, researchers have found a direct correlation between gum disease and heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, strokes and more. This is due to the bacteria in the periodontal pockets spreading into the bloodstream and causing inflammation in other areas of the body.

Have a dental check-up with a private dentist at The Dental Boutique

If you’re struggling with persistent painful, inflamed or bleeding gums, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at The Dental Boutique.

If you’re interested in learning more or you’d simply like to visit for a check-up at our private dental clinic in the Gold Coast, contact us on [email protected]  or call 07 5591 2262 to make an appointment.