Can Healthy Gums Prevent Disease?

Can Healthy Gums Prevent Disease?

Can Healthy Gums Prevent Disease?   

We’ve all been told to brush our teeth twice a day, but is there any rhyme or reason behind it? As it turns out, this daily regimen of brushing your teeth is an essential part of good gum health and overall health. Not only does gum disease put your teeth at risk, but it also increases your risk of several health problems like heart disease, stroke, and pancreatic cancer.  

What is Gum Disease?

Gum disease is a chronic inflammation of the gums due to a build-up of bacteria. The most common cause is inadequate brushing and flossing. It can lead to major issues inside your mouth, even breakdown of the tissue and bone supporting teeth.  It is possible to have gum disease without any major symptoms and most people are not even aware they have it. 

Common symptoms of gum disease may include:

    • gums that get irritated when flossing
    • tender and swollen gums
    • loose teeth
    • pain while chewing
    • bad breath
    • receding gums
    • sensitive teeth
    • your dentist sighing loudly when they floss your teeth and blood squirts out

The negative impact of inflamed gums moves well beyond the mouth. Bacteria from ailing gums travels through the body, triggering inflammation and damage to blood vessels in the heart and brain. This systemic damage caused can be detrimental to overall health. Over time, gum disease increases the risk of heart failure and stroke, worsens blood pressure, and results in complications to diabetes.

In addition to these well-established links, researchers have also found gum disease may be related to certain forms of cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, respiratory disease, and even osteoporosis

With so much at stake, it seems imperative to pay more attention to how, when, and why we brush our teeth. Good oral hygiene is a lot more than just a quest for a pearly white smile. 

How Do I Prevent Gum Disease?

Preventing gum disease is not as simple as just “brushing your teeth”. Your regimen for healthy gums should include these important habits:

Brush your teeth- Experts recommend brushing twice daily for at least two minutes, using a quality electric toothbrush like the Curvy Sonic 3000 Electric Toothbrush. This toothbrush stands above much of the competition since it is angled for better surface area, comes with three different brush heads, targets debris in the gumline, massages the gums, and offers overall cleaning power far superior to a manual toothbrush while being EMF-Free.

Use a therapeutic mouthwash- Having a swish of an over the counter therapeutic mouthwash after you brush can help reduce plaque and prevent gum disease. Look for one that’s made of natural ingredients and is alcohol-free.

Floss daily- It’s a pain in the butt to floss, but nothing beats the satisfaction of finally plucking out that popcorn kernel that’s been stuck in between your chompers since that Saturday matinee. You can floss any time of day, just be sure to do it daily as it helps remove any plaque or food that’s beyond the reach of your toothbrush. 

Get regular cleanings- You can be a superstar at home but there’s nothing quite like having someone else scrape those teeth clean. Not only can your dentist identify early signs of gum disease, but professional cleanings are also the only way to effectively remove tartar, which can help reverse it.

Avoid smoking- Smoking is one of the greatest causes of gum disease and can also make interventions to treat gum disease less successful.

Eat a healthy diet- Ditch the carbonated sodas and gummy treats and replace them with whole healthy fruits and vegetables. There are a number of recommended foods that promote oral health, such as broccoli and nuts (take them out of the shell first though).

Can Gum Disease be Treated?

If you are diagnosed with gum disease you may be able to reverse it. Talk to your dentist about the severity and options available. Sometimes it’s as simple as adopting a good oral hygiene routine and switching to an electric toothbrush, like the Curvy Sonic 3000 Electric Toothbrush System

 


Good gum health is not only essential to healthy teeth, it may even save your life. Try adopting a better oral health routine today and your body will thank you in the long run. 

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