How Healthy are Your Gums?

When most people think about oral hygiene, they might only consider the state of their teeth. But as our Sharonville dental team will tell you, that’s only part of the picture. Healthy gums are just as important since they keep your teeth in place and are essential to a winning smile.

Gum disease can occur when the gums become inflamed and damage the bone supporting your teeth. Excess plaque, which causes cavities, also contributes to gum disease.

3 Stages of Gum Disease

Gum disease usually doesn’t emerge suddenly but develops and worsens over time. Here are the three stages of gum disease, increasing in severity:

• Gingivitis is gum inflammation caused by an excessive plaque buildup along the gum line. A sign of gingivitis is bleeding while flossing or brushing. You can reverse the damage at this stage since it hasn’t yet affected the dental bone line.
• Periodontitis occurs when the supporting bone and gums sustain damage beyond your body’s natural healing abilities. Pockets form around the gum line where food and plaque get trapped. Although the damage isn’t reversible at this stage, regular dental care and good oral health at home can prevent the problem from worsening.
• Advanced periodontitis, the most progressed form of gum disease, has become severe enough to deteriorate the fibers and bone supporting your teeth. Your teeth may shift or loosen at this stage. Without aggressive treatment to save your teeth, you may lose some or all of them.

How to Prevent Gum Disease

Any family dentist may sound like a broken record, but they’ll tell you that the best way to ward off gum disease is to brush twice and floss once a day. They’ll likely recommend using a soft toothbrush and brushing with gentle, circular motions. Brushing too hard or using a brush that’s not soft can damage your gums.

Floss once a day and learn to do it correctly. The goal is to scrape plaque off the sides of your teeth. Use gentle motions up the side of one tooth and down, not back and forth like you’re sawing. Flossing should feel like a massage, not punishment.

Also, rinse with a mouthwash every day. Doing so kills cavity-causing bacteria on your teeth and flushes out any leftover food or plaque you may miss during brushing and flossing.

Finally, see your Cincinnati dentist regularly, ideally twice a year. If you currently smoke, do what you can to quit. Smokers have twice the risk of gum disease.

Prioritize Gum Health with Dental Support

Gum health goes hand-in-hand with strong teeth. At Beckham Square Family Dental, we emphasize compassion and comfort during routine visits and restorative procedures. We also take the time to educate you and your family on gum disease prevention and other aspects of good oral hygiene. Contact us today and take your next step to a healthy smile.