After years of study, researchers have concluded that unhealthy gums can lead to other medical complications throughout the body. For example, those suffering from gum disease could also end up suffering from diabetes, respiratory lung disease, heart disease, and strokes. Pregnant women may even end up giving birth to premature babies if they don’t take proper care of their gums.

People with unhealthy gums are also twice as more likely to suffer from coronary artery disease than people who have healthy gums. Learning how to properly care for the gums will keep them healthy and reduce the chances of experiencing diabetes, cardiovascular disease, strokes, and other health complications.

What is Gum Disease?

When too much plaque develops in between the teeth and gums and is left uncleaned, the bacteria hardens into calculus along the gum line. Calculus that’s left untreated eventually irritates the gums and turns into gum disease. Gum disease often starts off mild, which is what dentists call gingivitis. Individuals with gingivitis may experience bleeding after brushing the teeth or flossing. Gum disease gets severe when pockets develop and create a space for bacteria to build up. Once the bacteria spreads to the bones, there’s a chance other organs will be affected, which is how heart problems, strokes, diabetes, and more, begin to develop or worsen.

Symptoms of Gum Disease

Being aware of what symptoms to look out for will help individuals prevent any further complications from developing, so long as they immediately seek professional dental assistance. Some common symptoms that indicate unhealthy gums include redness or gum inflammation, odd taste in the mouth, bad breath, loose teeth, reoccurring mouth infections, pus between the teeth and gums, shifting of teeth when biting, and teeth that move away from one another.

How to Prevent Gum Disease

Maintaining a healthy oral care regimen in between annual dental visits will help reduce the chances of developing gum disease or prevent gum disease from worsening. Brushing twice daily and flossing at least once daily helps rid of excess food particles and prevents bacteria from building up in the mouth and causing infections. Maintaining a healthy, nutritious, and balanced diet also plays a large role in preventing plaque from forming and sticking to the teeth. Exercising and staying fit keeps the immune system healthy and able to fight off infections, which also help reduce the chances of developing gum disease.

San Diego Preventative Care

At McBride Dental, we offer preventative care services to help our patients keep their teeth and gums healthy so they can live confident and happy lives. The services we offer also protects our patients’ smiles from becoming damaged by gum disease, tooth decay, and other oral infections. During our patients’ annual visits at our office, we perform X-rays, deep cleanings, and whatever other dental procedures are necessary depending on an individual’s oral condition. If you are in the San Diego area and would like to schedule an appointment at our office, call us today at 760-471-1003.