The Importance of Gum Health

In order to have healthy teeth you also need to have healthy gums. Problems with your gums can lead to teeth shifting, becoming loose, and even falling out. Unhealthy gums can also lead to jaw bone loss, chronic bad breath, and facial swelling.

I started noticing a problem with my gums shortly before I had my wisdom teeth cut out, when I was 19 years old. I asked my dentist about an area of my gums that was receding. It was a small spot by my lower front canine tooth, and he thought that it was probably caused by a rough piece of food jabbing into the area. He said it should clear up on its own.

Six months later when I went in for another check up I had several areas where the gums were receding. I hadn't really noticed since it was a gradual change, but the dentist did. He had some bad news for me. First, I'd need my wisdom teeth removed; second, I'd need braces to correct the shifting my teeth had experienced.

Since both procedures were expensive and I didn't have dental insurance, I asked what would happen if I didn't do the procedures right away. I was informed that my teeth would continue to shift further out of alignment and that my gums would continue to recede. Neither of these conditions can be repaired by the body; I would have to get the dental work done.

Over the past ten years I've had my wisdom teeth removed and had braces put on. Dealing with the issues that receding gums can cause has led me to research the topic heavily. In addition to speaking with several dental professionals I've read numerous dental journal articles, researched professional dental information websites, and consulted with alternative health care practitioners.

Here are the most important things I've learned about gum conditions and health concerns:

• Receding gums can be caused by inadequate oral hygiene, brushing your teeth too roughly, shifting of the teeth, gum disease, or systemic illnesses that you have (ex. diabetes, HIV, etc.)

• Once the gums recede, they will never correct themselves. You must stop the cause of their recession, then work with a dental professional to correct any problems the condition has caused.

• Gum disease is easiest to prevent. It can be reversed in its early stages, but the longer it persists the more permanent and irreversible the damage is.

• The simplest thing you can do to prevent gum disease is to properly brush and floss your teeth every day. Consult your dentist or an online resource like the American Dental Association to find out how to properly brush and floss.

• Regular dental checkups and cleanings can help prevent gum disease and catch it in its earliest stages. Sometimes gum disease doesn't have noticeable symptoms, but the gum tissue is being damaged.

http://www.orthodontics.org/perio.htm#_blank
http://www.ada.org
http://www.perio.org
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11197106#_blank