In the past, oral health was utterly separated from overall body health. However, today we know that the health of the teeth and gums play a role in the whole body's health. Bad oral health can impact your body in addition to your quality of life. Knowing how the health of your gums is related to your oral and entire body health is paramount.
How Important are Your Gums?
Your gums or gingival are the soft tissues in your mouth. Gums provide a barrier to prevent infections. They also cover the bone that holds your teeth in. Sometimes, the gums recede as a result of disease, with the bone following if no treatment is done. If the health of the gums is jeopardized, the teeth also suffer because there is no sufficient tissue protecting them from bacterial or holding them in place.
Gingivitis Doesn't only Affect your Teeth
Gum disease arises from bacteria building up on your teeth as well as around the gum line. These harmful bacteria cause an infection. When you have gingivitis, your gums are painful, red, tender, swollen, and easily bleed. Gingivitis, which is considered the less severe form of gum disease, is local to the gums. However, it can grow worse, progressing to what is known as periodontitis, an advanced version of gum disease. Periodontitis affects only the gums but also the hard and soft tissues that surrounds the teeth. As a result, you begin experiencing bone resorption.
Bacterial infection linked to gingivitis is also associated with serious health conditions like diabetes, heart attack, and Alzheimer's. Getting rid of bacteria and inflammation on the gums helps keep your oral and whole-body health in good shape.
Taking Care of the Gums
It is possible to prevent gingivitis; it's also completely treatable. Also, good gum health can be obtained if you maintain proper oral hygiene habits. Since gingivitis occurs due to plaque build-up on the teeth, you need to ensure an appropriate brushing and flossing regimen. Brushing twice a day while flossing at least once goes a long way in improving your gum health, hence preventing gingivitis, which precedes periodontitis. Make regular visits to our dental office for checkups and professional cleanings to keep the gums and teeth healthy.
Dentist Tigard, OR | Dental Blog - Lincoln Center Smiles Dr. Saklofsky has created an educational blog as a resource for our patients. If you like an article or the dental blog in general please share it to social media, then call (971) 317-9499 to make an appointment. Lincoln Center Smiles, 10500 SW Greenburg Rd, Suite 3, Portland, OR 97223-1406; (503) 598-0898; sakdental.com; 12/6/2024; Tags: dentist Tigard OR;
In the past, oral health was utterly separated from overall body health. However, today we know that the health of the teeth and gums play a role in the whole body's health. Bad oral health can impact your body in addition to your quality of life. Knowing how the health of your gums is related to your oral and entire body health is paramount.