Gum disease is the one thing that no one wants to think about when it comes to their Dental Health. Our gums are considered to be the glue that holds our teeth in, and when we hear the term gum disease, many people become understandably worried. Still there are certain things that you need to look for when you think that your Dental Health might be in jeopardy this way.

One of the first things that you need to look for is the color of the gums. Gums must be pink and not red to be considered healthy and as well they must be free from both inflammation and swelling. Remember that it’s very important that you contact your dentist as soon as you see any of these signs because any of them might be symptomatic of a larger problem. It’ s important to consider the fact that gums should not bleed excessively when you’re flossing or brushing. One of the more common types of gum disease is called gingivitis and it generally occurs when the teeth haven’t been looked after properly.

Having unhealthy gums is much like having termites in the foundation of your home. If your gums are unhealthy, it sets your teeth up for having problems as well. Watch that your teeth are light pink in color, stippled like the surface of an orange, not tender or swollen and that they don’t bleed when you are brushing or flossing. If this is the case, then your gums are quite healthy and you don’t have anything to worry about. But if you do find that your gums bleed, the coloring is wrong or they pull away from your teeth, then you may have Gum disease which is also called Periodontitis.

Periodontitis is the leading cause of tooth loss with most adults. It can be called the silent disease because it is hardly ever painful but you can tell the early stages by bleeding gums. If you think that you have gum disease, it is important to go to your dentist to get it treated. Gum disease has been directly linked to heart disease and other health problems. The bacteria from gum disease can enter into your bloodstream and cause many different health problems.

There are many things that can cause gum disease which is the most common oral disease that there is. There are ways that you can minimize the risk of gum disease. The best way to maintain healthy gums and teeth is to take care of them and have regular dentist checkups.

Part of taking care of your teeth includes brushing them at least twice a day to remove th plaque and floss once a day to remove anything that brushing didn’t catch. Visiting your dentist regularily to get your teeth professionaly cleaned will help to remove tartar build up.

Check your teeth and gums for basic signs of gum disease between dentist visits. These signs include red and swollen gums, pain in the gum area, blood on your toothbrush or floss, persistent bad breath, loose teeth and teeth that have changed posistion during a short timeframe. Other things that you can do to help keep your gums and teeth is to stop smoking.

Periodontal diseas is the distruction of bone that support your teeth and is one of the most common diseases with gums. Periodontitis is irreversible, but you can stop its progression by visiting your dentist regularily and good oral hygiene.

There are eight warning signs of periodontal disease.

- Gums that bleed when you brush or floss

- Gums that are swollen, red or tender

- Gums that pull away from the teeth

- Any infection between your teeth

- Loose permanent teeth

- Changes in how your teeth fit together

- Bad breath

- Itchy sensation

We all know that there are foods that are unhealthy for your teeth and gums but there are also different foods that can help you get heathy gums. Some foods fight bacteria naturally and remove plaque, strengthen enamel and freshen breath. Here are some of the foods that are great to eat as much as possible.

Cereals
Sesame Seeds
Cheese
Kiwis
Edible East Asian Mushrooms
Green Tea
Onions
Mint Leaves
Water

Now to recap the foods that are not good for you. You need to try and avoid food that is soft and sticky. Also, if you are going to drink a soft drink, you need to drink through a straw. Avoid food with lots of sugar in it and try and stick to more nutricious foods.

Receding gums happen when the gums and bone in the mouth have moved away from the teeth. It can be caused by gum disease, how your teeth fit together or by trauma. The only way to tell if you have receding gums is if there is sensitivity or if you notice a change around the tooth. Most times, people don’t notice this problem for quite awhile.

The only way to diagnos this problem for sure is to get your dentist to examine your teeth and gums. If they find that you do have a receding gum line, they will need to find out what the cause of it is and then they can treat it. If it is caused by fillings or crowns that do not meet up properly, they will be corrected. When someone has receded gums, their teeth become much more sensitive so the dentist my prescribe an agent to desensitize the teeth. Another thing that dentists sometimes do to treat patients with receding gum lines is to give them a vitamin supplement that will help make their teeth and gums stronger.

Gingivitis is the earliest stage of gum disease and can be easily treated or reversed if it is diagnosed early. Some of the symptoms include red, swollen or puffy gums that bleed easily. If it is not caught in time or treated, then gingivitis can progress into periodontitis which is an advanced and much more serious stage of gum disease which can include bone loss and is not reversible. Gum disease can also cause heart attacks and strokes so it is very important to catch them early and get treatment.

The best prevention of these diseases is regular brushing and flossing as well as routine visits to your dentist and dentist cleanings. Some things that can cause gum disease are tobacco use, diabetes, some medications, crooked teeth, pregnancy, defective fillings and poor oral hygiene.

When we think about healthy teeth, we never really relate it to healthy gums, but the truth of the matter is that gum disease is a common dental problem that can result in major dental problems including tooth loss. The two most common types of gum disease in adults is gingivitis and periodontitis.

The way to keep your teeth and gums healthy is to make sure that you keep them clean both through brushing daily and regular cleanings from your dentist. If your mouth has any of the following characterizations, then chances are your gums are quite healthy.

- Pink or coral pink color

- firm, resilient tissues

- stippling or and ‘orange-peel’ texture

- shape that follows the contour of the teeth and forms a scalloped edge

- no areas of redness, swelling or inflammation

- no bleeding during daily plaque removal

- no discomfort

When most people think about going to the dentist they get caught up thinking about their teeth. But dental care isn’t just about your teeth: it’s also about your gums.

When you pay attention to your gums, it’s not hard to see the warning signs that say it’s time to see a dentist - warnings signs like:

• red or tender gum tissue
• gums that regularly bleed when you brush and floss your teeth
• pus or blood around your teeth when you press on your gums
• pulling away of your gums - a deterioration that makes it seem as though your teeth are getting longer

If you’re noticing any of these symptoms when you brush, floss or just look in the mirror, you’ll want to make sure that you set up an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible so the cause can be determined and a course of action can be planned for you.

Bleeding gums are generally the fist sign that something is going wrong with your gums.  Gingivitis is not necessarily a serious condition, what it is, is an indication that you need to start taking better care of your teeth and gums.  If you do not, there is a good chance that your minor gum problem could progress to a more serious form periodontal disease.

The bacterial infection of your gums can lead to
much more serious problems than a little blood on your toothbrush, it can actually become so bad that your teeth begin to fall out.  What can you do to prevent this from happening?  Brush your teeth carefully at least twice a day.  If you experience some minor gum bleeding, it is not necessarily cause for concern.  It is a sign that your dental hygiene could be improved.  You might want to try brushing more often, reduce the amount of sugary foods and drinks that you consume and if you are not doing it already, you should definitely floss your teeth.

Flossing is just as important as brushing your teeth.  It does not matter how often you brush your teeth, if you do not floss, your gums are at risk. In people whose teeth are very close together, flossing can be extremely uncomfortable.  While it does get easier with time, dental picks are a suitable alternative.  Dental picks consist of a plastic handle and a thin brush.  When used correctly, these can access the gums, without passing through the limited space between the teeth, avoiding the severe discomfort that dental floss causes some people.

Flossing will keep your teeth cleaner and your breath fresher.  You may not know, but one other symptom of gingivitis is bad breath.  Cleaning between your teeth and restoring the health of your gums may alleviate your bad breath.

While there are people that are more prone to bleeding gums than others, certain things are known to cause the condition.  Smoking, has been linked, as too have diabetes, severe and chronic vitamin C deficiency, leukemia and hemophilia.  For this reason, it is important that you try to ascertain the cause of your bleeding gums.   In the vast majority of cases, the cause is insufficient teeth and gum care.

If you have bleeding gums, make an appointment to see us here at Wayzata Dental.  Your dentist will be able to help identify the cause and give you some helpful information about how to better care for your gums.  It is also a good chance to get your teeth professionally cleaned.  It is much easier to restore your dental health from a fresh start.

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