Gum Disease - Everything Your Dentist Needs You to Know
The human body is like a home. There are many “rooms” and areas that need to be taken care of, each that have unique maintenance requirements, problems and solutions. It is helpful to think of the mouth as the main entrance of the house. Your body’s “guests” like food and water, enter the house through the main entrance; your mouth. Your dentist’s main objective is to ensure the health of your mouth, mainly gums and teeth, are in healthy, working condition.
The mouth is susceptible to many diseases that can cause all sorts of health challenges and can seriously bring down your quality of life. In order to correctly maintain your dental health, you need to ensure that you visit the best dental clinic in your area! Luckily, KWC Dental operates in Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge. If you’re looking to give your mouth the care and maintenance it needs, be sure to contact us and our team of dental professionals will happily look after you.
One of the diseases that you can fall victim to without proper care of your teeth and gums is Gum Disease. This article will summarize exactly what Gum Disease is, what causes it, and how you can prevent gum disease to keep your mouth as healthy as ever!
What is Gum Disease
The fancy name for Gum Disease is Periodontitis - we agree, Gum Disease is a lot easier to remember. Gum Disease affects 75% of the adult population in its varying stages and severity. Gum Disease in its more serious form can damage the soft tissue of your gums and destroy the bone that supports your teeth, ultimately leading to pain, loose teeth and even tooth loss.
When your gums are healthy, they should be pale and pink in color, and your gums should “hug” your teeth and feel snug. This firmness of the gums and teeth is a positive indication of gum health.
When your gums are in the early stages of Gum Disease, plaque and bacteria begin to pack into the gums, receding them backwards and creating an unhealthy depth between tooth and gum. This stage is called Gingivitis. An indication of this stage of Gum Disease is inflamed and red gums, as opposed to tight, pale and pink gums.
The most dire form of Gum Disease follows, where the gums are completely infected with bacteria and the gums become loose, swollen, and prone to bleeding. Here, the underlying bone that hosts your teeth can become infected and cause severe pain and tooth loss.
What Causes Gum Disease
Clearly, Gum Disease is nothing to mess around with. It is important to know what causes Gum Disease so you can take the steps to protect yourself and your family from the health hazard.
Causes of Gum Disease include:
Buildup of Plaque; a sticky mixture of food and saliva that produces bacteria which pollutes your teeth. Plaque constantly renews and without proper care can build up into problematic tartar (hardened plaque below the gumline)
Tartar is hardened plaque that cannot be removed without the help of a professional dental cleaning. When tartar forms, bacteria sits on the tooth for longer, decaying and deteriorating the tooth and surrounding gum
What you can do to prevent Gum Disease
To prevent Gum Disease from developing or advancing, it is absolutely vital that you:
Brush and floss regularly! Ideally twice a day.
Avoid sugar and starchy foods - particularly pop and candy
Ensure you are meeting your Vitamin C needs throughout the day
Stop smoking! This includes recreational smoking such as marijuana and vaping
Have regular dental cleanings, book an appointment at KWC Dental so our professional dentists and hygienists in Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge can ensure your dental health is at its best!
If you want to learn more about Gum Disease, visit Uptown Dental in Waterloo, where Dr. Sam Samra can guide you on Gum Disease prevention and healthy oral practice.