Your Gums: The Hidden Key To Attractive Teeth

Many people don't give their gums much thought. Your beautiful smile could be in jeopardy if gum disease rears up, though. Read on to find out more and keep your gums as healthy as your teeth. 

What Gum Disease Can Do

Your gums and your teeth are not two separate things, they are connected to each other. When gum disease occurs, it might be because of a tooth or infection problem that you might not have known about. Bacteria are not just the cause of decay, they can also cause gum problems. Although everyone has vast quantities of bacteria in their mouths all the time, the problems occur when bacteria is left on the teeth and gums and when they enter the gums. 

Bacteria can enter through the smallest of openings in a gum or tooth. Tiny cuts formed by vigorous flossing can allow bacteria to enter, for example. Other culprits inviting bacteria in are cracked teeth, old fillings, loose teeth, and more. 

When bacteria enter your gums, abscesses can form and that may create a dangerous condition. However, gum diseases can also happen because of bacteria and that can, in turn, affect your teeth. For example, when your gums are infected, they will swell and become puffy. You won't be able to access certain areas of your teeth because of your gums. That is another opportunity for bacteria to enter and cause decay of the tooth. It's not a reach to say that gum diseases will make your teeth fall out. However, it's within your reach to prevent that worst-case scenario from happening. 

What You Can Do

In some cases, you might be afflicted with gum disease and not know about it. However, many people experience some of the following:

• Swollen gums.
• Bleeding when flossing and brushing.
• Loose teeth.
• Pain and irritation in the gum areas.
• A bubble of pus on the gums (an abscess).

Gum disease is 100% preventable. Taking the below actions will prevent gum problems and by extension, teeth problems:

1. Get some updated instructions on brushing correctly from your dental hygienist. 
2. Consider using an electric toothbrush. They do a better job, are more precise, and have timers to ensure correct brushing durations. 
3. Flossing is part two of the at-home dental hygiene scheme. You can now buy water flossers that can help prevent cuts to your gums caused by manual flossing. 
4. See your dentist as ordered and have your teeth professionally cleaned. That way, your hygienist will spot the signs of plaque buildup and suggest a dental scaling procedure. 

 Speak to your dentist to find out more. For more information on dentistry, contact a professional near you.