What are the consequences of ignoring gum disease? The ramifications can affect more than your smile. Here’s what happens when gum disease is ignored and how it can affect your oral and bodily health!

Chronic Bad Breath

Gingivitis often begins with the noticeable symptom of chronic bad breath. You or your partner may notice that your breath is constantly off, and it may get worse as gum disease goes untreated. You may brush, floss, and use mouthwash, but the bad breath never completely goes away.

Bad breath is often the result of poor oral hygiene which can cause food and bacteria to
accumulate between teeth and cause gum inflammation [1]. Eventually, these bacteria will lead to pockets of infection around the gumline, which can not only cause bad breath, but contribute to a bad taste in the mouth as well.

Gum Recession

As gum disease progresses, you may begin to notice your gums receding. Receding gums can expose dentin—the softer layer of your tooth beneath the enamel—and even tooth roots.

You may notice that your teeth look longer, or begin to see discoloration near your gumline. When gums pull back from the teeth in this way, the result isn’t just longer-looking teeth, but sensitive teeth as well [2]. While gum recession has a few causes, including brushing too harshly, one of the most common is gum disease!

Loose Teeth

In its latter stages, periodontal disease can weaken the ligaments, or connective tissue, that help anchor teeth in place. The continuing infection will cause the pockets of bacteria to get larger, and teeth may begin to feel loose or feel as though they are shifting in your mouth.

Loose teeth can not only fit together differently, but also make it difficult or uncomfortable to chew. Gum disease is one of the leading causes of tooth loss, and without treatment, this devastating oral health problem could eventually cost you your smile.

Other Health Complications

Gum disease doesn’t just affect your teeth. Research has linked bacteria from gum disease to other inflammatory conditions in the body, including heart disease, diabetes, and even certain types of cancer [3]. Periodontal disease also poses particular risks for expecting mothers—active gum inflammation has been associated with an increased risk for delivering babies prematurely as well as babies with a low birth weight [4].

There Is Treatment for Gum Disease!

Preventable and treatable, periodontal disease isn’t a condition you have to live with. Your dentist can detect the early stages of gingivitis to help you reverse gum inflammation, and even for those with active periodontal disease, there is treatment. Get in touch with your dentist today to get a screening for gum disease!

Sources:
1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1570844/
2. https://www.ada.org/~/media/ADA/Publications/Files/FTDP_Sept2013_2.pdf?la=en

3. https://www.perio.org/consumer/gum-disease-and-other-diseases
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3217279/

The post The High Risks of Ignoring Gum Disease appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Research shows that plant-based diets can be beneficial for your overall health, even reducing the risk of heart disease, depression, and certain types of cancers [1]. But what does research have to say about plant-based diets for your dental health?

A Plant-Based Diet Could Help Prevent Oral Cancer

Oral cancer includes cancers of the mouth, tongue, cheeks, and throat, and affects tens of thousands of Americans every year. If diagnosed early, oral cancer has a fairly high successful treatment rate, making those checkups with your dentist that include oral cancer screenings all the more important.

Current evidence shows that a diet high in plant-based foods including fruits and vegetables may help prevent oral cancer [2]. Of course, avoiding tobacco products and reducing your consumption of alcohol are important factors in avoiding oral cancer as well!

Veggies Are an Essential Part of a Healthy Diet for Teeth

Vegetables are part of a healthy diet for oral health, and provide essential nutrients that your smile needs to stay healthy [3]. All types of veggies and fruits can support your oral health! Protein is an important component of dental health as well, as it supports strong and healthy teeth and gum tissue.

Protein is able to be consumed in the form of plants, and it’s certainly possible to get all the protein you need from plant-based sources, but you may also choose to supplement with animal products. Excellent protein sources from plants include beans, nuts, soy, quinoa, seeds, oats, and rice.

Eating Mostly Plant-Based Could Improve Gum Health

In one study, vegetarians had less inflammation and gum damage than non-vegetarians [4]. In this same study, vegetarians also had better oral hygiene, fewer missing teeth, and stronger teeth.

While this evidence shows that vegetarians may have better oral health, it doesn’t mean you have to stop eating meat or other animal products completely—just that you can focus more on plants to reap the benefits for your smile!

So What’s the Verdict?

Your body needs a well-balanced diet to support not just your oral health but your overall health as well. Choosing a plant-based diet can positively impact your health, but it doesn’t mean you have to completely get rid of animal products. Try to aim for smaller and fewer servings of animal products, or have them only a few days a week instead of every day.

And, of course, always brush and floss your teeth daily, and schedule regular visits with your dentist every six months or as recommend by your oral healthcare professional. Diet plays a critical role in your oral health, but so do your oral care habits—so do your best to pay attention to both!

Sources:
1. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/what-is-a-plant-based-diet-and-why-should-you-
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21282682
3. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/d/diet-and-dental-health
4. https://www.nature.com/articles/ejcn2013101

The post Is a Plant-Based Diet Better for Your Dental Health? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Healthy gum tissue is essential to the health of our teeth, as it helps to both support the teeth and protect the roots of the teeth from exposure to hot and cold foods, which can cause painful sensitivity.

What could cause healthy gum tissue to suddenly become swollen and potentially lead to gum disease? Let’s take a closer look at why your gums could be unhappy and need professional treatment to get back to normal!

Bacteria and Plaque

Bacteria and plaque are the primary culprits in gum inflammation and disease. In fact, plaque is actually composed of bacteria and food debris left in the mouth. You know plaque as the sticky coating on your teeth if you haven’t brushed for a few hours.

Plaque can build up on teeth, particularly in areas we miss when brushing. When left unchecked, plaque can begin to irritate the gumline, which can lead to a potential infection. Plaque can eventually form in tartar, a hard substance that will need to be removed by your dentist [1].

Genetics Can Contribute

If your parents have a history of gum disease, it’s more likely that you’ll have gum inflammation or disease at some point in your life.

Why is this? Research shows that certain genes are linked to the development of gum disease [2]. By understanding your risk, you can take precautionary measures to prevent problems with your gums.

And remember, just because your family has a history of gum disease doesn’t mean you’ll get it—but it’s important to be aware of your risk!

Other Factors That Can Impact Your Risk

You’ll be more at risk for gum inflammation and disease if you smoke or use tobacco products. You may also be more at risk if you’re pregnant, as this can cause gums to swell due to different hormones and increased blood flow in the body. For this reason, those who take oral contraceptives may be at more risk as well.

Crooked teeth, which can be difficult to clean, and compromised immunity can all impact your risk for inflamed gum tissue. Even being under a lot of stress—which can impact your immune system—can increase your risk for certain problems with your gums [3].

How to Help Prevent Gum Problems

Fortunately, keeping your gums healthy is simpler than you think. By regularly cleaning your teeth—brushing twice daily and flossing once daily—you can help prevent gum disease.

Combine your home care habits with regular checkups with your dentist, and you can help stop gum disease before it even has a chance to start!

Sources:
1. https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/sites/default/files/2017-09/periodontal-disease_0.pdf
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5424192/
3. https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/conditions/periodontal-disease.html

The post What Causes Gum Inflammation and Disease? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.