People often think a great smile is due to having beautifully white teeth and fail to think about the structures surrounding them. In fact, if you want to have a great smile, you need to ensure your gums are strong and healthy and that you do not have any signs of gum disease.
Why Healthy Gums Matter
Healthy gums are vitally important for healthy teeth as they provide essential support, along with the bone and ligaments surrounding your teeth. They should nicely frame your teeth and when healthy they are a pale pink color and should be firm to the touch. Ideally, healthy gums will fit snugly around your teeth and this helps prevent bacteria from your mouth getting in to your body. If your gums aren’t healthy then there is a real risk you could end up losing your teeth.
What Are the Symptoms of Unhealthy Gums?
Your mouth contains many different types of bacteria and if these bacterial levels are allowed to build up, your gums can become infected with gum disease or periodontal disease. This has the potential to become a very serious condition that can cause tooth loss, and which may affect your general health. If your gums are infected then they may feel spongy to touch, could look red and puffy and are more likely to bleed when you brush and floss, or even at other times.
The problem with infected gums is that they begin to recede and pull away from your teeth due to the inflammation caused by the bacteria, and by your body’s attempt to fight it. With receding gums, it becomes easier for bacteria to infect the other structures holding your teeth in place and which include ligaments and bone. Eventually these bacteria will be able to destroy these ligaments and bone and the loss of the structures can result in teeth becoming loose.
Who Is at Risk of Gum Disease?
Everybody is at risk of gum disease, although for some people this risk is greater. For example, if you have general health problems, particularly any affecting your immune system or inflammatory diseases, you may be at greater risk of developing gum disease. However, gum disease is preventable. Our periodontists at Envy Smile Dental Spa have all the expertise and knowledge required to help you look after your gums and to maintain great gum health. If you do develop gum problems, we can provide you with expert periodontal disease treatment.