4 Health-Related Reasons to Care for Your Gums

Teeth aren’t the only part of your mouth that require proper care. As it happens, your gums’ health needs to be supported too. Though not as eye-catching as a pearly white smile, they greatly benefit your body when they’re doing well.

Here’s a summary from your periodontist in Huntington Beach of four reasons to care for your gums. Read on so you’ll appreciate the pink stuff around your teeth!

Why Should You Care for Your Gums?

In terms of function, gums work to protect the non-visible portions of your teeth from germs and injury. They also help you to bite and chew your food efficiently.

However, your gums might contract periodontitis if you don’t tend them well. Also known as gum disease, the latter is caused by a bacterial infection that leads to gum inflammation. As it spreads, it can damage several aspects of your overall health.

Heart Health

In its moderate to severe forms, gum disease increases the inflammation levels throughout your body. Several studies have linked said inflammation to a higher risk of stroke and heart disease, especially as the latter is an inflammatory condition.

Lung Health

Some research suggests that gum health promotes lung health for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

On the other end, periodontal disease increases the risk of respiratory infections like pneumonia. Such may occur from inhaling bacteria into the respiratory tract.

Nutritional Health

If left untreated, gum disease can result in tooth loss. People often find it harder to eat healthy foods such as crisp fruits and vegetables when that happens. Chewing problems can also lead to poor nutrition, which then causes issues like fatigue and dizziness.

Emotional Health

The tooth loss stemming from gum disease can hurt confidence in one’s smile. According to the Academy of General Dentistry, dentists pull 20 million teeth yearly in the U.S. alone. From there, it’s stated that eighty-six percent of dental practices say social embarrassment is one of the biggest problems people report after noticeable tooth loss.

How to Improve & Preserve Gum Health

There are ways to keep your gums from developing periodontal disease. From now on, regularly practice the following:

• Brush & Floss: Brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste. Make sure to brush along the gum line in addition to your teeth.
• Replace Worn Toothbrushes: A toothbrush past its end can injure gums, so switch it out every three to four months.
• See Your dentist: Checkups and cleanings can assess your gum health while preventing future oral health concerns.

From the reasons above, you can see that well-tended gums keep your whole body running smoothly. As such, see your dentist to learn how your own are doing and the best ways you can help them now.

About the Author

Dr. Justin Braga serves the periodontic needs of California’s Huntington Beach community. After graduating with his dental degree from the University of the Pacific, he specialized in Periodontics at the University of Southern California. His later research on dental implants even earned him a reward from the California Society of Periodontology. Dr. Braga currently practices at Huntington Beach Periodontics and can be reached at his website or by phone at (714)-587-9094.