Why is Gum Disease Everywhere?
Do you have red, swollen, or easily-bloodied gums? If so you may have periodontal or gum disease.
A lot of people tend to ignore the signs of periodontal disease because they think it only happens to someone who doesn’t take care of their oral health. You take care of your mouth; you brush, floss, and visit the dentist. So, how could you have gum disease?
Tough Truths
The truth is that many adults have gum disease, maybe even more than you think. Some studies report as many as half of all American adults age 30 and up have periodontitis, the more advanced version of gum disease.
To understand why this is, you should be aware of how periodontal disease begins. Gum disease starts when the natural bacteria of your mouth creates a sticky film on your teeth. This film will build up and harden into tartar. Only a professional dental cleaning can remove tartar. The presence of plaque and tartar can cause an inflammation of the gums (gingivitis), which in turn can develop into an infection and breakdown of the gums (periodontitis) if left untreated.
Everyday Hazards
Brushing and flossing do clear up plaque before it can harden into tartar, and dental visits can help remove tartar when it does build up. Unfortunately, many commonplace factors help produce plaque too quickly or help existing tartar inflame and infect the gums.
Diets high in sugar and carbs help the bacteria create plaque faster; if a diet is also low in water, then the extra plaque is not washed away. Smoking, prescriptions, immune deficiency diseases (like AIDS), and possibly even hormonal shifts due to pregnancy or menstruation weaken your body’s chances of fighting off gingivitis. Misaligned teeth offer plaque more spaces to build up and inflame the gums. These factors – some more than others – are everyday occurrences and often exist together. As a result, it is not unusual for someone to have a good oral hygiene routine and gum disease.
Thankfully, having an increased risk of gum disease is not a guarantee of getting gum disease. The basic dental routine is often enough to prevent gum disease: brushing twice a day, flossing the same amount, and visiting the dentist every six months. If one or more of the risk factors associated with dental disease risk applies to you, then brushing and flossing should be increased to happening several times throughout the day. More dental visits may also be recommended, depending on your case.
Get Periodontal Disease Help
Dr. Richard Silvera works with the gums regularly and can help you fight off periodontal disease. He can treat both gingivitis with regular cleanings and periodontitis through a scaling and root planing procedure. If you are worried about the health of your gums, contact our Century City office today!