If you ask most people why they brush their teeth, they would probably tell you that they do so to keep them clean and to prevent tooth decay. While this is correct, it also indicates that people may often pay less attention to their gums when they clean their teeth. This is a bad mistake to make as good gum health is important for a healthy mouth and to prevent potentially serious issues from arising.
At Purley Dental Care, we believe in whole mouth health and that includes your gums. In today’s blog, we will explain why you should look after your gums well and what you can do to improve their health.
The most obvious and important reason to look after your gums is to avoid gum disease. You may have seen the toothpaste adverts on the TV where someone spits into the sink after brushing their teeth and there is blood. Although this is a symptom, it is not the only one and you should also keep an eye out for any of the following:
These are some of the main symptoms of gum disease although it can also be ‘silent’. This is why we recommend that you have regular appointments with our local hygienist.
Before we look at more detailed treatment of gum disease, we should also look at what you can do at home to help your gums have a better chance of staying healthy.
Part of this you can do when you brush your teeth. Make sure that the bristles on the brush are healthy and not worn as this will help bacteria removal. You should change your toothbrush or brush head every three months. When you brush your teeth, make sure to angle the bristles so that they can clean beneath the gum line. This will help to remove trapped food particles and bacteria that can collect there. You may also want to consider using a toothpaste that is designed to prevent gum disease.
You should also add flossing to your daily routine. This is an excellent way of cleaning the areas between your teeth.
There are two key stages of gum disease. The earlier stage is called gingivitis and the more advanced stage, periodontitis. Neither stage should be ignored but gingivitis is more treatable, while periodontitis is more serious as it can affect the underlying bone that holds the teeth in place. Once infected in this way loose teeth may follow which may eventually fall out.
We mentioned earlier that you should see the dental hygienist and this is something that we strongly recommend that you do every six months. Not only will this help to treat any early stage gum disease (gingivitis) but will help in its prevention too.
The hygienist will discuss your lifestyle and cleaning habits and suggest ways that you can start to improve your oral health. They will also carry out a non-invasive treatment called a ‘scale and polish’. This is essentially a professional cleaning and consists of three stages.
This is an excellent way of keeping your teeth and gums in good health and will also make your teeth both look and feel cleaner and fresher.
Once periodontitis has set in, it becomes more difficult to treat. This may require a treatment known as ‘root planing’ or a ‘deep clean’. This involves an invasive treatment that cleans the roots of the teeth and the bone tissue surrounding it. While this can prove to be effective, it isn’t always so and prevention is definitely the best route to take.
In essence then, good gum health is important, and gum disease is being increasingly linked with health conditions such as heart disease, strokes and Alzheimer’s. Keeping them healthy is straightforward with improved home cleaning habits and six monthly professional help from the hygienists at Purley Dental Care.
Why not start your journey towards healthier gums today? Check your toothbrush and change it if it looks worn. Treat yourself to some dental floss and learn how to use it (we are happy to demonstrate if you find it difficult), and finally, book an appointment to see our friendly hygienist. You can do this by calling our Purley dental clinic today on 020 8660 2928.
