One of the most unpleasant dental experiences is having gum disease. Gum disease is a bacterial growth in your mouth that damages your teeth and gums surrounding your teeth.  This form of disease can be rather painless, but the signs and symptoms of gum disease are quite obvious including: red swollen gums, receding gum line, loose teeth, and bleeding gums.

Gum disease is primarily caused by plaque, but there are other factors that assist in the development of gum disease. For example, hormonal changes, illness (cancer or HIV), medications, smoking and poor hygiene habits.

The best methods of preventing gum disease are to get professional dental cleanings at least twice a year, brush your teeth with an ADA approved fluoride toothpaste, floss thoroughly and use an antibacterial mouth rinse to reduce the amount of bacteria that causes plaque buildup overtime. Each one of these “treatments” helps to eliminate plaque from the surface of teeth, between teeth and under the gum line.

Lifestyle changes that can help prevent gum disease include:

• Avoid smoking: Smokers are more likely to develop gum disease than nonsmokers. Smoking also lowers the chance for an effective treatment.
• Eat healthy: A well balanced diet will help ensure that your body receives the proper nutrients it needs in order to thrive and remain healthy. A healthy body helps your immune system fight off infection.

Gum disease is a very serious issue. It is extremely important that you continue to brush, floss, and rinse your teeth continually. This helps prevent not only gum disease but other dental diseases as well.

Remember, healthy teeth are happy teeth!