While some people are predisposed to develop gum disease based on genetics and lifestyle factors such as smoking, in many cases, gum disease is entirely preventable. Here’s how you can stop gum disease from ruining your smile with a few simple steps.

Brush Your Teeth Twice a Day

Brushing your teeth is an essential part of removing plaque, which is a substance made up of bacteria that grows on the teeth. You can actually feel plaque on your teeth when you skip brushing or at the end of the day—it almost has a fuzzy feeling while brushed teeth feel smooth.

Plaque causes gum disease as it builds up around the gumline, which can irritate gum tissue and lead to ongoing inflammation and infection that can eventually compromise tooth structure. Fortunately, brushing regularly—at least once but preferably twice a day—removes plaque to keep your smile healthy [1]!

Floss Once a Day

Just like brushing, flossing helps remove plaque and bacteria from teeth. However, the important thing about flossing is that it gets in between teeth in areas that a regular toothbrush simply can’t reach [2]. People who skip flossing are missing crucial areas in their oral cavity when cleaning!

Since plaque is responsible for both tooth decay and gum disease, flossing once a day is an important part of any oral care routine. To floss properly, use a clean section of floss for every set of teeth you floss between and focus on flossing the sides of your teeth, not simply pulling the floss in and out of your teeth, which is not only ineffective but can hurt your gumline.

Visit Your Dentist

Visiting your dentist at least once a year or as recommended by your dentist can help you prevent gum disease. While brushing and flossing are certainly effective at preventing gum disease, your dentist can conduct a thorough cleaning of your teeth to remove the traces of plaque you can’t always see.

Your oral healthcare professional can also evaluate your smile for subtle signs of gum disease you might be missing [3]. The earlier you catch gum disease, the easier it is to treat and to reverse, so don’t skip your regular appointments with your dentist!

Are You Seeing Signs of Gum Disease?

If you have inflamed, red, or bleeding gums, you could have gum disease. Other symptoms include sensitive teeth and a persistent bad taste in your mouth. Schedule an appointment with your dentist to determine if you could have an early stage of gum disease and what you can do to treat it—getting treatment now can save your smile and prevent tooth loss later in life!

Sources:
1. https://www.perio.org/consumer/prevent-gum-disease
2. https://www.ada.org/en/press-room/news-releases/2016-archive/august/statement-from-the-american-dental-association-about-interdental-cleaners
3. http://www.ada.org/~/media/ADA/Publications/Files/patient_08.ashx

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Hormone changes—namely decreasing estrogen—in the body can impact a woman’s entire
body, including the oral cavity. Can menopause impact dental health? You might be surprised
to know that your teeth and gums may experience some changes with the onset of menopause.

Menopause May Cause Dry Mouth

Low levels of estrogen in the body can dry out mucous membranes, including the mouth.
Although not every woman will have dry mouth after menopause, some will experience
noticeable dryness that can impact chewing, swallowing, and speaking.

Dry mouth also affects tooth enamel. Saliva helps to protect our teeth from harmful acids and
bacteria. When the mouth is dry, bacteria are more likely to attack and damage tooth enamel,
which can lead to sensitive teeth and tooth decay.

Fortunately, staying hydrated can help, but visit your dentist if you’re worried that dry mouth is
impacting your smile!

Osteoporosis Can Affect Alveolar Bone

Estrogen doesn’t just help to keep the mucous membranes of the body moist—it also helps to
protect bone density. With a lack of estrogen in the body, menopause can often put women at
risk to experience osteoporosis, a condition in which bones can become thinner and more likely
to break.

However, osteoporosis can affect alveolar bone as well, which is the bone that helps support
teeth in the jaw. If alveolar bone becomes less dense, it can lead to loose teeth and even tooth
loss.

Getting regular checkups with your dentist can help detect any changes such as loose teeth to
help stop loss of bone density and protect your smile (and your body)!

Women May Experience an Increased Risk of Gum Disease After Menopause

Although menopause isn’t likely to cause gum disease, it can worsen existing gum disease. With
nearly half of all American adults having some form of gum disease, many people are living with
gum disease and don’t realize it.

Since menopause can lead to other oral cavity changes such as dry mouth, gum disease may get
worse with menopause. The gums may become more red and begin to pull back from the teeth,
causing tooth sensitivity and gum infections.

Gum disease can also contribute to loose teeth, so if you’re experiencing osteoporosis along
with gum disease after menopause, you may be at a higher risk for tooth loss. Gum disease can
be treated and even reversed, so talk with your dentist about your risk for this condition at your
next appointment.

Menopause brings many changes due to hormonal shifts in the body that end menstruation,
some of which may affect the oral cavity. However, you can keep your teeth and gums healthy
as you transition into menopause by visiting your dentist to take the best possible care of your
smile!

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While most people keep an eye out for typical pregnancy symptoms such as fatigue or a missed period, your teeth and gums might be more telling than you think. Is teeth and gum sensitivity a symptom of pregnancy? The answer might surprise you!

Hormones Can Alter Your Level of Teeth and Gum Sensitivity

Hormones are powerful messengers in the body, and yes, they can make your teeth and gums more sensitive! Some mothers-to-be go through periods of teeth and gum sensitivity, while others may have it consistently throughout their pregnancy.

In fact, hormones can even alter the way your body responds to a potential infection, such as the infection that can come with gum disease. These changes can cause sensitive teeth and gums, which should always be checked out by a dentist to protect you and your little one!

Increased Circulation Can Cause Swollen Gums

Most women will experience an increase in blood circulation during pregnancy in order to provide the developing fetus with nutrients during this essential time. However, this increased blood flow can cause your gum tissue to swell and become sensitive as well.

You may find that brushing your teeth is painful, or, you may have sensitivity to hot and cold foods where you didn’t have sensitivity before. However, swollen gums can also be a symptom of gum disease, so if this symptom persists, don’t hesitate to follow up with your dentist.

Many Expecting Mothers Are Prone to Gum Disease

Pregnant women are more susceptible to gum disease due to their fluctuating hormones. If you’re vomiting as a result of the morning sickness that the majority of new mothers experience, your teeth can be negatively impacted by your pregnancy.

If you’re seeing symptoms of gum disease, such as swollen, red gums, bad breath, or increased tooth sensitivity, don’t just blame it on your pregnancy. Gum disease in women has been linked to premature birth and low birth weight, so getting this infection treated is not only important to your health, but to your baby’s health as well.

Getting treatment for gum disease during pregnancy is safe, so schedule an appointment with your dentist if you’re having symptoms to ensure you have a safe, healthy pregnancy.

Are you concerned you might be pregnant? It’s true that changes in your oral cavity—including increased teeth and gum sensitivity—can be a symptom of pregnancy. Don’t wait to schedule an appointment with your dentist during your pregnancy to get your smile checked out. You’ll enjoy your pregnancy even more with a healthy smile!

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What exactly causes gum swelling? The following causes may be responsible for the
inflammation in your gum tissue and should always be followed up with an oral healthcare
professional to protect your smile!

Gum Disease

Gum disease is one of the most common causes of gum swelling. When gum disease is present,
bacteria from plaque can get beneath your gumline and begin to irritate the gum tissue. When
this happens, the gum tissue will react and can become inflamed. Without treatment, gum
disease can progress to cause infections underneath the gums, which in turn can cause bad
breath, bleeding gum tissue, and even cause tooth loss.

Certain Medications

Many medications can actually cause the gum tissue to become inflamed. These medications
include some seizure medications, immunosuppressant drugs (such as chemotherapy), and
some blood pressure medications. In some people, these medications can actually cause the
gum tissue to grow over your teeth and create an ideal place for bacteria to form. If you’re
concerned that one of your medications is causing gum swelling, don’t hesitate to schedule an
appointment with your dentist or physician.

Lack of Vitamin C

Although less common in developed countries, a lack of vitamin C in your diet can be damaging
to your gum tissue and can lead to gum disease and gum swelling. Vitamin C is an essential
nutrient for your gums and can help facilitate healthy connective tissue and support a strong
immune system to fight off gum infection.

Changing Your Oral Care Products

If you’ve recently started using a new toothpaste, mouthwash, or floss, your gum tissue may be
reacting to an ingredient in these products that you haven’t used before. If you’re experiencing
gum swelling after using a new product, you may consider discontinuing your use of the
product to see if this alleviates the issue. If it doesn’t, be sure to follow up with your dentist!

Flossing After a Long Time

Flossing is hugely beneficial for your smile and shouldn’t be painful or harmful to your teeth or gums. However, if you haven’t flossed in a long time and have recently started again, your gums might not be used to the movement of the floss and may react by swelling. This swelling should be temporary and shouldn’t last more than a couple of days after you’ve begun flossing again, but if it does, don’t hesitate to reach out to your dentist to see what the problem could be.

Are you experiencing gum swelling but aren’t sure what the problem is? It’s always best to
follow up with your dentist to see what could be causing your gum inflammation and to
effectively treat the problem. Your gums protect and anchor your teeth, so don’t neglect to
take care of them!

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Gums are an integral part of our mouths, helping to support the teeth, protect the tooth roots,
and nurture our smiles. How can you maintain healthy gum tissue?

1. Brush and Floss

Brushing and flossing are among the top things you can do to help your gums. However, how
you brush and floss is just as important as whether or not you brush and floss!
When it comes to gum tissue, gently brushing the gumline at a 45-degree angle can help
remove bacteria that build up near the tooth roots and help prevent gum disease. Never brush
aggressively and always choose a soft-bristled toothbrush to protect the gums rather than
irritating them.

For flossing, use at least 18 inches of floss and use a clean section between every set of teeth.
Floss gently just underneath the gumline to remove plaque, food debris, and bacteria. This can
help your smile remain healthy and prevent gum disease!

2. Visit Your Dentist

Your dentist is going to be a key player when it comes to maintaining healthy gum tissue.
Dentists are trained to spot signs of gum disease in the early stages, so having a professional
check your gums is important.

Getting regular checkups can not only ensure your gum tissue is healthy, but also help you to
cultivate best practices for keeping it healthy. Your dentist can point out areas that you’ve
missed in your smile and also conduct regular cleanings to remove any plaque that has built up
near the gumline.

There’s no substitute for visiting your dentist when it comes to gum health!

3. Avoid Tobacco Products

Although far fewer people smoke today than they did decades ago, tobacco products are still a
threat to our health.

This includes our teeth and gums. Even smokeless tobacco options such as chewing tobacco still
contain nicotine, which can reduce blood supply to the gum tissue and mask symptoms of gum
disease. The same is true for e-cigarettes, which deliver nicotine to the body and can still harm
your gums.

Since these products can mask the symptoms of gum disease, many tobacco users don’t realize
there is a problem until it’s too late. Since gum disease is one of the biggest causes of tooth
loss, this is a serious problem for people around the world.

By avoiding all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, you give your gums their best chance to
remain healthy and give you a beautiful smile for life!

Are your gums as healthy as you would like them to be? Gum tissue is an integral part of our
smiles and provides us with a healthy mouth for life. Consider getting your gums evaluated with
your dentist to ensure they’re healthy and strong!

The post 3 Steps You Can Take to Help Maintain Healthy Gums appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

So what’s the truth about what happens to our teeth as we age—do they get weaker and more brittle, or can we expect them to stay the same? The truth is something of a mix of the two, so read on to find out what you can expect for your pearly whites in the years ahead.

Your Teeth Can and Should Remain Strong

Your teeth are designed to last a lifetime. Although teeth can be damaged and weakened by many factors including diet, physical health, teeth grinding, tooth decay, and gum disease, your teeth themselves should not get weaker or brittle as you age unless you have an underlying health problem.

Some research suggests that dentin—the softer part of your tooth just under the enamel—grows weaker with age in some people. The protective layer over your dentin, the enamel, should remain strong throughout your life provided that you’re healthy and taking the proper care of your teeth.

Our Habits Can Damage Our Teeth

Our teeth can grow weaker and more brittle as we age if we engage in harmful habits that can damage them. These habits include:

 Having a poor diet. Not getting the right kinds of nutrients—including calcium and
vitamin D—can weaken your smile, especially in postmenopausal women.

 Grinding your teeth. Teeth grinding can severely weaken teeth, irritate the gum tissue,
and even lead to tooth loss.

 Not visiting the dentist. Plaque and tartar can accumulate to make your smile weaker as you age, especially if you’ve been skipping the dentist for years.

 Using teeth as tools. Your teeth are meant to chew food, not to open packages, crack
nuts, or chew on ice. All these practices can fracture and weaken teeth.

You have the resources to help your teeth remain strong and healthy for life, so take advantage of them!

Physical Health Is Connected to Dental Health

A growing body of research is pointing to the link between bodily health and oral health. For instance, tooth decay and gum disease have been linked to heart disease. Mothers who have gum disease are more likely to give birth to children who are underweight. The oral cavity is proving to be a compass for how healthy the body is, proving to people everywhere that a healthy mouth may just help you have a healthy body.

If you have a physical disease that includes a compromised immune system, this can increase your risk for oral health problems such as gum disease. If you have a mineral deficiency in which your body cannot properly absorb nutrients, this is likely impacting your oral health. You can talk with your dentist or doctor about how your physical health could be impacting your smile.

Taking care of our teeth is so important. Your teeth have the potential to be healthy and strong for your entire life, but you have to take good care of them. Make an appointment with your dentist today to discover just how beautiful and healthy your smile can be—for life!

The post Do Teeth Get Weaker and More Brittle with Age? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Gingivitis

Gingivitis is the beginning stage of gum disease and also the mildest. When plaque isn’t fully
removed from teeth, these bacteria can lead to gingivitis, causing inflammation and irritation in
the gums.

Fortunately, gingivitis is the easiest form of gum disease to treat and can actually be reversed.
Your dentist will most likely recommend a deep cleaning to remove all the bacteria responsible
for your gingivitis. After this, proper home care and regular dentist visits will be instrumental to
keeping gum disease away.

Periodontitis

Once your gingivitis has progressed to periodontitis, you’ll have a harder time reversing the
disease, but it can certainly still be treated. Chronic periodontitis happens when the bacteria
have caused pockets of infection in the surrounding gum tissue and your gums may be receding
from your teeth, resulting in the appearance of longer-looking teeth.

At this stage of gum disease, your dentist will likely still perform a deep cleaning to stop the
disease from causing further damage and prescribe antibiotics to help combat the active
infection. In severe cases, patients may need a procedure to help reconstruct the gum tissue.

Aggressive Periodontitis

Some people will experience an aggressive form of gum disease, in which the health of your
gums is compromised by the quick loss of gum tissue. This form of gum disease is very similar to
traditional periodontitis except it progresses faster. People who have a family history of gum
disease and people who smoke have an increased chance of experiencing aggressive
periodontitis.

Your dentist will talk with you about your treatment, which will be similar to periodontitis, but
may require surgery to help save your gum tissue. Seeking treatment is important before your
smile is totally compromised!

Necrotizing Periodontitis

In people who have compromised immune systems, death of the gum tissue may occur and
cause major damage to the ligaments that help hold teeth in place. This form of gum disease is
rare and is usually associated with another medical problem. Your dentist and physician will
work together to create the best treatment plan for you in the event that you’re experiencing
this form of gum disease.

If you’re experiencing red or bleeding gums, gum recession, or sensitive teeth, you could be
experiencing symptoms of gum disease. All forms of gum disease are treatable, so make an
appointment with your dentist as soon as possible to evaluate your smile. Since gum disease is
the leading cause of tooth loss, there’s a not a moment to wait!

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Alcohol Irritates Mouth Tissues

The soft tissues in your mouth can become inflamed when exposed to alcohol repeatedly. Irritating your gum tissues can lead to inflammation, which over time can damage the roots of your teeth. The
components of alcohol (mainly acidic components and sugar) can also be very eroding to the enamel of your teeth, meaning you’re even more at risk for sensitive or painful teeth over time. In addition, alcohol dehydrates you, and these dehydrating effects take a big toll on your mouth. Our saliva protects our teeth and helps keep our oral bacteria balanced, but when drinking alcohol, the mouth becomes dry and is therefore a breeding ground for bad bacteria and plaque. If you are going to drink alcohol in moderate amounts, be sure to stay hydrated while doing so. Alcoholic drinks do not count towards your hydration fluids.

Poor Oral Health

People who drink alcohol excessively tend to neglect their oral health by not brushing and flossing
regularly in addition to not getting dental check-ups. This combination of practices can lead to buildup of plaque and bacteria over time from the dry mouth that alcohol creates as well as symptoms of tooth decay and gum disease. Frequent drinkers tend to not notice or ignore any symptoms they’re experiencing when it comes to their oral health, such as gums that are red and inflamed, bleeding, sensitive, or pulling back from their teeth. It’s important to get regular check-ups at your dentist so that your dentist can help you treat any symptoms you have before they get worse. Alcohol can be very harsh on the gums and can eventually lead to tooth loss because of gum disease, tooth decay, or cavities.

A Maintenance Routine Is Important

If your drinking habits are causing you to forget to brush once in while, this is not a big deal. If, however, this is happening regularly or several times a week, you’re giving bacteria and plaque time to build up on your teeth. Many people enjoy mixed drinks, which can be very high in sugar and damaging to the teeth. The combination of the sugar and alcohol can irritate your gums, damage your tooth enamel, and if left with enough time in an ideal environment such as a dry mouth, can wreak havoc on your teeth.

Nearly everyone has different ideas about what they consider abuse of alcohol to be. When it comes to your oral health, drinking alcohol can be considered abusive when it interferes with your oral health through gum disease or other problems with your mouth. Keep to a routine and remember to brush, floss, and visit your dentist regularly—your teeth depend on it.

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Gum disease or gingivitis is a bacterial infection. It’s contagious, and it can cause a lot of problems. When the infection is present, the plaque or film of bacteria on your teeth and gums causes irritation, which causes the bleeding. Your body reacts to the injury with inflammation, which is the body’s response to disease or injury. It’s a form of protection, but for us it means reddening and swelling. Gum disease causes bad breath, it can undermine the support structure of your teeth, and if left untreated, it can lead to tooth loss. The infection can also spread to other parts of your body.

Bleeding gums are a definite sign of gum disease. Without treatment at this stage, the gingivitis is likely to progress to periodontitis, the more severe form of gum disease. Periodontitis is the stage where the infection has spread below the gum line. If this is not treated, the gums can begin to separate from the teeth, and in time, the teeth can fall out. The disease can also get inside the teeth, necessitating a root canal to save them.

Good oral health care at home can decrease the chances of gum disease, but it can still be caused by other factors, including genetics, hormones (especially in women), taking certain medications or certain health conditions. Having regular dental checkups can help because the dentist can detect gum disease early, when treatment is easy. When gingivitis has progressed to periodontitis, deep cleaning and scaling of plaque and tartar from below the gum line may be necessary. Severe gum disease may even require surgery to correct. This is why if you see any bleeding while you are brushing your teeth, you should get to the dentist as soon as possible to reverse gum disease before it becomes worse.

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