You Should Keep Your Gums Healthy—Here’s Why!

Other than brushing and flossing every day, you’ve also probably been told to clean your gums often. While this might not seem as important as keeping your smile bright, 1 in 10 adults is affected by periodontal disease, especially at the age of 64 and older. Without proper preventive dental care, you could be at risk of infection in the gums as well as other places in the body. Keep reading from your dentist in Mesquite on the importance of your periodontal health and tips for preserving it!

The Connection Between Gums & Overall Health

Although your gums are important for your dental health, they can also influence other aspects of your overall health. If yours are unhealthy, then they can negatively affect the following areas:

• Lung health: Periodontal disease involves the growth and accumulation of bacteria along the gum line. If left untreated, you may eventually inhale the microbes into your respiratory tract, causing infections in your lungs like pneumonia. This is especially harmful if you’re experiencing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which can make it harder to breathe.
• Heart health: Gum disease also consists of inflammation-causing bacteria that cause swelling around your teeth. When this condition becomes more severe, the infection can escape into your bloodstream and travel to other parts of your body, especially the heart. This can increase your risk of more serious issues such as heart attacks and strokes.
• Nutritional health: Many cases of tooth loss occur due to periodontal disease. Having missing teeth can make it more difficult to both eat your food and enjoy it. You may also struggle with chewing, which can force you to avoid certain foods or healthy diets.
• Mental health: Losing teeth from gum disease can make you feel embarrassed to show your smile. This can create stress as well as lower your self-esteem in the long run.

Ways to Keep Your Gums Healthy

Maintaining healthy gums is quite simple once you understand how they can impact your overall health. The best ways to preserve them involve brushing and flossing every day, eating a balanced diet, avoiding tobacco products, and visiting your dentist every six months for regular checkups and cleanings.

Now that you know how important your gum health is, you’ll be better prepared to care for them in the long run! And if you have any concerns about your condition, feel free to contact your dentist to schedule an appointment.

About the Practice

At Bear Creek Family Dentistry, we are happy to deliver outstanding, comprehensive, and passionate dental care for you and your family. Our team of expert dentists seeks to ensure your smile is healthy and offers multiple advanced treatments to get the job done efficiently and comfortably. We provide a wide variety of options—including checkups/cleanings and gum disease therapy—to help you achieve and maintain good dental health. If you’d like to know more about gum health or need to schedule a visit, check out our website or call 972-331-5300.