7 Ways to Protect Against Gum Disease
Many people underestimate the seriousness of , but our Canton, MI, dentists warn that ignoring it can have far-reaching consequences for both your oral health and overall well-being. Left untreated, gum disease can contribute to issues in vital systems like the heart, brain, and digestive tract.
Harmful bacteria in your mouth don’t just stay there—they can spread to other parts of your body, causing additional complications. Recognizing the symptoms early on and receiving gum disease treatment is key to protecting your health.
Here are 7 effective ways to safeguard against and maintain a healthy smile.
What You Might Be Feeling
The symptoms of gum disease can be subtle, which means many people don’t seek dental care until the disease is in its advanced stages. Here are a few symptoms to look out for:
- Bad breath
- Sore gums
- Bleeding gums
- Receding gums
- Tooth loss
- Pain when chewing
Bleeding and sore gums are not the norm! If you start seeing any of these symptoms, reach out to our dentists right away. Treatments for gum disease vary from case to case—from a simple deep cleaning () to medication or surgery. The sooner you come in to see us, the faster we can help.
The Progression of Gum Disease
Within every stage of periodontal disease, there are signs or symptoms that require further oral examination and treatment. One stage marker is gum pocket depth that is also known as “probing depths”. As gum disease worsens, the pockets that form between your gums and teeth grow deeper allowing bacteria to cause inflammation and destruction of bone.
Gingivitis
When enough plaque has built up around your teeth, gingivitis can occur. With regards to symptoms, this typically means swollen or red gums and bleeding when brushing or flossing. It is at this stage that a patient’s gum disease is reversible and has not resulted in many other complications.
Learn More →Gum Disease Stages: Symptoms to Watch and Treatments to Seek
Gingivitis is active inflammation of the gums with no bone loss present, and some may not even know it’s developed until told by our dentists or one of our hygienists. This is because symptoms are often painless. Certain symptoms, like bleeding gums, can mistakenly be attributed to brushing or flossing too hard which while possible, is not always the case.
Mild to Moderate Periodontal Disease
By this point, your gum disease can no longer be cured, only managed. Our dentists can help you come up with a plan to keep your gum disease from progressing further. As far as your smile goes, you’ll notice increased swelling, redness, and bleeding of the gums. The pockets between your gums and teeth will also be deeper which your hygienist will probe to diagnose the stage. A depth measurement of 4 to 5 millimeters will indicate mild periodontal disease and 6 and 7 millimeters will mean your condition is a bit further along.
Moving forward, advanced gum disease can cause permanent damage to the bone and tissue in your mouth, even causing teeth to fall out in some cases. Serious treatment is necessary to get this condition under control.
Protect Your Smile Against Gum Disease With:
1. Regular Dentist Visits
Seeing our Canton dentists regularly cannot be stressed enough. A routine teeth cleaning can help prevent gum disease by removing plaque hiding in between teeth and along the gum line. During your dental cleaning, our dentists and hygienists will also be able to spot signs of gum disease like bleeding gums.
2. Good Dental Habits
Although this may seem obvious, good oral care is crucial for healthy gums. Brushing your teeth is important but not enough—especially when it comes to gum disease.
If you haven’t already, you should add flossing to your routine to reduce the risk of plaque building up and damaging your gums. When flossing, be sure to get up and under your gums to remove any plaque that’s hiding there.
Watch out for “DIY teeth whitening” information you see online. A lot of it can actually hurt your teeth. Using an antimicrobial mouthwash low in alcohol can also be very beneficial to your oral health. Gingivitis treatment can be as simple as scheduling a teeth cleaning and practicing good oral hygiene.
3. A Cigarette/Tobacco-Free Lifestyle
Smoking cigarettes and other tobacco products have been known to cause countless health issues, especially gum disease. Tobacco products are very harmful to your gums and should be avoided at all costs.
Even other tobacco sources, such as chewing tobacco, cigars, and e-cigarettes, are harmful to your gums. It’s best to steer clear of tobacco products altogether if you want healthy teeth and gums.
4. A Healthy Diet
Nothing helps more in preventing gum disease than . Be sure to avoid sugary foods and drinks as they lead to tooth decay and gum damage. Eating a balanced and nutritious diet filled with vitamins and minerals boosts your immunity and helps ward off many diseases, including gum disease. Try incorporating foods that are high in collagen, beta carotene, and omega-3s for best results.
5. Increased Vitamin C Intake
Vitamin C deficiency is one of the leading causes of gum disease. Including more Vitamin C in your diet not only helps prevent gum disease, but can also help treat any symptoms you might have. Vitamin C has healing properties that can stop your gums from swelling or bleeding while stabilizing loose teeth.
6. Plenty of Water
Staying hydrated is necessary in preventing gum disease, as well as promoting overall health. Drinking plenty of water produces more saliva which helps fight off bacteria that can cause gum infection.
7. Dental Sealants
are non-invasive coatings that are brushed onto the chewing surfaces of back teeth, or molars. They may seem simple compared to other dental procedures, but sealants are capable of protecting your smile for years. Once performed, the dental sealant procedure is designed to prevent decay from entering the fine grooves and pits located on molars. These narrow, hard-to-clean “fissures” are commonly found on back teeth which makes them especially susceptible to cavities.
Request an Appointment Today
Our gum disease dentists in Canton, MI, have years of experience helping patients fight and successfully manage this harmful condition. If you want a healthier smile, call Hometown Dental today at (734) 667-4941 or contact us online.
This blog has been updated.