It would be hard to believe that people would refuse to brush their teeth in the modern age. However, did you know that there was a time, not too long ago, when tooth brushing wasn’t an essential habit?
Knowing better in today’s world, the ramifications of poor oral health habits can lead to dental health problems, beginning with gum disease.
In the early 20th century, advertisers were responsible for getting Americans to brush their teeth.
However, several ad campaigns failed to persuade Americans to buy the product we now know as toothpaste. Spreading dental health awareness was a challenge, no one was buying it. It wasn’t until advertisers started to launch campaigns about how beautiful and white your teeth can become after using toothpaste that the number of people in America using toothpaste increased.
Although it’s not difficult to encourage people to brush their teeth as it was in the early 1900s, people nowadays still neglect to take care of their teeth properly, leading to varying degrees of gum disease and eventually tooth loss. If you want to keep your teeth looking their best for as long as you can, here are some ways to know that you might have gum disease so that you can have your dentist address it sooner rather than later.
What Is Gum Disease?
Before discussing the definite signs of gum disease, it would be best to start with defining gum disease. According to the Mayo Clinic, gum disease is called periodontitis. It is a severe gum infection that damages the soft tissue and, without treatment, can destroy the bone that supports your teeth, thus leading to tooth loss. Periodontitis is the more extreme form of gum disease. However, a severe but less intense form of gum disease is gingivitis. It has very similar symptoms to periodontitis, but it is much more common. Gingivitis is more of an inflammation of the gums, while periodontitis is a disease of the gums. Gingivitis typically precedes periodontitis.
Things Which Trigger Gum Disease
You may be thinking, “I regularly brush and floss, so I shouldn’t have gum disease.” However, poor dental hygiene isn’t the only thing that causes gum disease. Besides poor dental hygiene, some other overlooked causes are as follows: hormonal changes, illness, certain medications, smoking, or family history. Remember that even if you are great at taking care of your teeth, you could still be susceptible to gum disease.
Sometimes genetic predisposition for gum disease may make you susceptible to the disease. In this case, you may need to visit your dentist more often than you usually do to combat the problems leading to gum disease.
Definite Signs of Gum Disease
How do you know if you have gum disease? The best way to know is to have a dentist determine if you have it. However, the five things listed below are sure signs that you have gum disease.
- Red or Swollen, Painful Gums
- Bleeding Gums
- Bad Breath
- Pocket Pus
- Loose Teeth
If you are exhibiting any of these signs, you likely have some form of gum disease. Visiting a dentist will allow you to determine what stage you are at with gum disease and what you need to do to remedy the problem.
Schedule a Dental Appointment, But in The Meantime…
It is critical that you get to the dentist as soon as possible if you display such symptoms. But with so many delays due to the pandemic, getting an appointment may take some time. While you are waiting to see a dental professional, you can do some at-home remedies to ease the pain or minimize the visible signs of gum disease until you can be seen by a professional.
You can start improving your dental hygiene by brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash much more than you usually would. Improving your diet will also help. This next tip is easier said than done, but if you reduce your cigarette intake or stop it altogether, this will go a long way to minimize it.
Gum disease is a very troubling oral problem. However, it is treatable if you know the signs and do your part to keep your oral hygiene high. Regularly seeing a dentist will also help minimize the problems with gum disease and help you to ensure that you have a beautiful smile that lasts for many years to come.
Don’t wait to visit the dentist, especially if you have some concerns and know that you are in good hands at our Walled Lake Dental Office. Over 40 years’ experience ensures we have successfully practiced safe and sanitary patient care and continue to do so. We pride ourselves in offering a personalized experience which includes a full range of dental services with the latest technology in modern dentistry.
Our dental services include general dentistry, cosmetic dentistry such as dental veneers, teeth whitening and invisible braces as well as restorative treatments such as dental implants, dental bridges and dentures.
Make sure your gums are healthy by calling our Walled Lake Dental Clinic for a Free Consultation today!
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www.mayoclinic.org/disease-conditions/periodontitis/symptoms-causes/sinc-20354473
www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/gingivitis-periodontal-disease#1
www.ada.org/en/member-center/oral-health-topics/nutrition-and-oral-health