4 Shocking Facts About Gum Disease

At this point, maybe you’re already excited for Halloween. You’d certainly be in good company – many people think of Fall as the “spooky season.” Before you consider scary treats, though, there’s something you should know: September is National Gum Care Month! As such, now is the time to reflect on your gum tissue and how it contributes to oral health. Your Dallas dentist can even help you honor the occasion. To that end, here are four interesting gum disease facts you should learn.

It’s a “Silent” Disease

When you picture gum disease, you may imagine fairly obvious symptoms. Perhaps things like bleeding or gum swelling come to mind. However, a gum infection actually starts as a “silent” disease.

More specifically, the condition’s early signs are subtle and easy to miss. They’re often so minor that you could have gum disease without realizing it. Only when the infection reaches advanced levels would you notice changes to your mouth.

Given these facts, you really should see a dentist for regular checkups. They’re trained to recognize the early signs of gum disease. When they do, they’ll address your issue before things worsen.

It Doesn’t Just Affect Seniors

Many assume gum disease only affects seniors. However, this idea is patently false. The reality is that people of all ages can suffer from infected gums – children included.

While periodontitis is rare in kids, the same isn’t true of chronic gingivitis. Children can get the latter as often as they do cavities. As such, parents should do what they can to prevent the problem. Potential steps include regular dental visits, a limited sugar intake, and supervised brushing and flossing.

It Causes Chronic Bad Breath

True, the occasional case of bad breath is normal enough. (Mouths can be smelly in the morning.) That said, chronic halitosis can point to gum disease.

Remember, gum disease is a bacterial infection. It involves many microbes, which can put off unpleasant odors when gathered together. As a result, more than breath mints are needed to solve the problem. You just might need a dentist to address the root cause.

It Can Trigger Tooth Loss

If you’re like most, you may link tooth loss to tooth decay. Bacterial acids can seem like the clear culprit for teeth falling out. Truthfully, though, gum disease causes more adult tooth loss than cavities.

Fortunately, getting your full smile back with restorative dentistry is possible. Should you lose teeth from gum disease, you can opt for dental implants, dentures, or dental bridges.

Once you’ve memorized these interesting gum disease facts, your gums will be all the safer. So, learn them now before Gum Care Month ends!

About the Practice

Bear Creek Family Dentistry is based in Dallas, TX. Led by its great group of dentists, our practice provides comprehensive dentistry for the whole family. We thus offer preventive, cosmetic, and restorative services, as well as emergency care and orthodontics. Naturally, then, our team can treat your gums with periodontal therapy. For more details or to book a visit, please reach us on our website or by phone at (214)-350-5333.