The Importance of Understanding Gum Disease

You brush, you floss, you limit your sugar consumption, and you see your dentist twice a year. You do all this to avoid cavities and tooth decay, right? Well, yes and no. While tooth decay is a problem for oral health, gum disease is equally concerning. In fact, gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, can become a serious health concern if left unchecked.

Promoting Healthy Little Mouths

As parents, we strive to help our children grow up healthy and strong in every possible way. Good dental hygiene is a big part of that, not just to prevent cavities but also to reduce the risk of gum disease. It’s never too early to start promoting healthy teeth and gums.

Do you find that eating ice cream or drinking hot coffee causes pain in your teeth? You may have sensitive teeth. It’s a common condition, affecting about 45 million people in the United States, but it can be painful and difficult. What causes teeth to be temperature sensitive? More importantly, what can be done about it?

You know about cavities, and tooth decay, and how important it is to brush and keep your teeth healthy. But how much do you know about the health of your gums? The gums are an important part of your mouth, and if they’re not in good shape, your whole mouth can suffer. What do you need to know about your gums?

It’s long been known that periodontal disease is a serious health problem. Beyond causing tooth loss and bleeding gums, periodontal disease can be detrimental to the whole body when bacteria from infected gums enters the bloodstream. Now, new research has revealed a link between periodontal disease and pre-term birth, showing that women with gum disease are substantially more likely to go into early labor than women with healthy gums.

It seems far-fetched to say that your oral health and Alzheimer’s disease could possibly be connected.  However, this is exactly the claim that research is beginning to suggest.

Do your gums hurt when you brush and floss? Is there blood in your toothpaste when you spit into the sink? This usually means one of two things—either you’re being too rough when you brush and floss, or you’re developing gum disease. To rule out other more serious problems, be sure to visit your dentist. Otherwise, explore these solutions to help prevent your gums from hurting when you brush your teeth.