Gum disease is just one of the many common diseases humans have but being just another common disease doesn’t mean it should be left and wait for itself to heal. When left untreated, it can generate some really scary effects. And these effects are first, bad breath, swollen and discolored gums, and gums that easily bleed. During this stage, the symptoms may be mild and gum disease can go off and heal itself with little effort. But even though that’s the case, there is still a high chance that the initial stage of gum disease (gingivitis) will progress to a more severe stage (periodontitis) and during this stage, the symptoms worsen and life becomes more difficult just because of the disease.
If that’s not enough, give gum disease more time to progress to even more serious cases. If left untreated, it could lead to loose teeth – the gumsaresoft tissues that hold the teeth in place so if they’re weakened, you’re left with loose teeth, often times about to come off and in the end, since it’s irreversible, you’ll be forced to get a set of dentures to wear which is pretty troublesome.
Treating gum disease is an option but preventing gum disease is obviously the better choice. If you think you’ve been doing enough to prevent gum disease, here’s a quick checklist to help you determine if you’re doing enough in terms of prevention: first is going with the basics: brushing your teeth three times a day, three minutes each time or so called the “three rule” in dental health care. When you brush your teeth, ensure you do so properly – brush with a soft bristle toothbrush in a smooth, circular motion and ensure to cover all surfaces.
Flossing is just as important as brushing your teeth – food debris which gets infected with bacteria is the main cause of gum disease so make sure to find time to do it every after meal. Antiseptic mouthwashes are useful for killing bacteria so try to keep one with you for those times when you’re unable to brush or floss. Try to minimize or stop smoking as this is one top cause of loose teeth and gum disease.
A proper diet should also be implemented – try to avoid sugar and starch rich foods and try to maintain a healthy source of vitamin C (fruits) as this plays a big role in maintaining healthy gums. Finally, make sure to visit the dentist every 6 months for a regular check-up – this is to ensure that gum disease and other dental diseases are taken care of as soon as possible.