healthy gums

The importance of your gums in your overall health Keeping your gums healthy is one of the main purposes of maintaining proper oral hygiene. The gums or gingiva play an important role in protecting your teeth and holding them in place by creating a tight seal around them. These soft tissues (gums) work as a protective layer to keep disease-causing bacteria away from your pearly whites. Unhealthy gums are not able to provide a proper barrier against bacteria, and once bacteria penetrate the deeper parts of your teeth, they put your teeth’ entire structure in danger. People may experience loose teeth or even tooth loss as a result of unhealthy gums. Your gums’ health is not to be overlooked because unhealthy gums can negatively impact your dental health and your overall well-being.

Let’s see what healthy gum should look like. Healthy gums

1. are often pink in colour or a darker shade of pink
2. are not inflamed and have a firm texture
3. won’t bleed when you are brushing or flossing

Signs and symptoms of unhealthy gums Your gums may need urgent care if you have the following symptoms:

• your gums are red or darker
• swollen and inflamed gums
• loose permanent teeth
• gums that are tender or sore
• bleeding gums
• receding gums
• halitosis or persistent bad breath
• pus coming out of your gums
• tooth sensitivity

Receding gums refers to a dental condition in which gums pull away from the teeth’ surface, causing the teeth’ roots to become exposed. If your gums look red and swollen, have a less firm structure, if they are tender to touch, if they bleed while you’re brushing or flossing, or if you feel a sudden change to your natural bite, you’d better have your gums checked up by a dental professional as it may be a sign of some sort of gum disease. Now open your mouth and take a look at your gums! What do they look like? How do they feel around your teeth?

What does the colour of your gums mean? What causes gums to turn purple or brown? Why are my gums purple? Is having purple gums normal? While healthy gums are often associated with the colour pink or a shade of pink, darker shades do not necessarily equal unhealthy gums. Just like we have different skin colours, the colour of our gums can vary according to our ethnicity or our age. Having brown gums is natural if you have a darker skin tone. Dark brown gums are also normal for those with naturally dark skins; moreover, gums tend to turn darker as we age. Purple or brown gums can also be healthy and look firm; therefore, as long as you are not experiencing swollen gums, tender or sore gums, sensitivity, or gum bleeding, having darker shades of pink like purple or brownish gums should not be a concern. If you notice your gums have turned purple, accompanied by any sensitivity, swelling, pain, or soreness, you will need to visit your dental expert because it may indicate an infection. Pale gums: Pale gums may indicate anemia, leukoplakia, or menopause. Red gums: Red gums can be a sign of infection and inflammation of your gums and the first sign of gingivitis. Red gums may also bleed easily and be sore and tender to touch, which requires urgent oral care. Grey gums: A weakened immune system can cause your gums to have a greyish film over them. Seek medical attention if your gums have turned grey since it can be a sign of bacterial infection. White gums: A fungal or viral infection can change the colour of your natural gums to white. You will need medical care in this situation. Black gums: Black gums are only normal if your skin tone is also very dark; otherwise, black gums can need to be examined carefully. In some cases, tobacco use or certain medication may have caused your gums to turn black.

How does poor oral hygiene compromise your gums’ health? According to Dr Ellie Nadian, Dental plaque is defined as a thin, sticky film of bacteria that regularly covers your teeth. Plaque is a byproduct of bacteria, acids, and carbohydrates (sugars and starches). The combination of the saliva, food, and fluids in the mouth allows bacteria to grow. The bacteria in plaque feed on the sugars from sugary or starchy foods and produce acids. Over time, these acids in the plaque can attack your teeth’ enamel and destroy them, causing you many dental issues, including cavities and “gingivitis,” which is the early stage of gum disease. Enamel erosion makes your teeth more susceptible to developing decay. Dental plaque, this biofilm or coating, forms between your teeth and along the gum line and will grow and thrive if not removed by proper brushing and flossing. Plaque starts forming 4-12 hours after brushing!

Buildup plaque can create many oral health issues for you! By accumulating minerals from the saliva in the mouth, plaque can harden into a hard deposit called tartar. Tartar or calculus is a hard, porous, yellow substance that builds upon the teeth if plaque is not removed properly and regularly. Tartar is bad news for your teeth and gums because it mostly forms along (below and above) the gum line and can make the teeth cleaning difficult because the gum tissues are now swollen and inflamed and may bleed easily. Swollen gums may stop you from removing dental plaque, resulting in more accumulation of tartar. The accumulated tartar along the gum line makes your gums sensitive and inflamed; you may experience bleeding gums which can indicate the mildest form of gum disease called “gingivitis.” You must seek professional oral care to get rid of tartar to prevent more serious oral health problems like periodontal disease. Tartar removal is not achievable at home, your need professional dental cleaning at your dentist’s office.

Your mouth is home to millions of bacteria. Daily brushing and flossing and general oral hygiene will ensure your oral health and prevent tooth decay by controlling the level of the bacteria in the mouth. Without proper oral hygiene, bacteria can form dental plaque, turning into dental calculus or tartar over time if not removed regularly. Tartar is not easy to remove at home, and the building up of tartar can make it hard for you to brush your teeth; therefore, bacteria can easily penetrate below the gum line and cause gum infection. Gum infection results from improper oral hygiene and the building up of bad bacteria in the mouth and in the tissue around the teeth, which cause the gum tissues to get infected. The infected gums will get inflamed and swollen as a natural body response to infections. Make sure you practice good oral hygiene to prevent infection.

Generally speaking, infections and inflammation of the gums and the teeth supporting tissues can lead to Periodontal Disease. Therefore, gum infection can be considered the first sign of periodontal disease. Risk Factors for Gum Infection These factors may increase your risk of developing gum infections:

• Smoking cigarettes or using any other tobacco products
• Having a weakened immune system
• Genetics
• Hormonal changes in women (pregnancy)
• Having crooked teeth
• Certain medication

Periodontal disease or gum disease occurs due to the infections and inflammation of the gums that damage the soft tissue and the bones that support the teeth. Gum disease can be defined as an ongoing gum infection. Gum disease is a serious chronic inflammatory condition; if left untreated, it can jeopardize your oral health by affecting all the tissues, including the gums, periodontal ligament, and alveolar bone. Periodontal disease affects about 20% to 50% of the global population, and it mostly affects adults rather than children, according to this paediatric dentist in Brisbane.

Plaque and tartar accumulation over time will cause gum disease. Risk Factors of Periodontal Disease Gum disease can result from poor oral hygiene, smoking, hereditary, age, stress, illnesses like AIDS, and some medication.

The periodontal disease varies in severity, and while it’s easily treatable in its mildest stage by practising good dental hygiene, it may turn into a more serious condition in its advanced stage which is not reversible.

Unlike gingivitis, periodontitis is considered an irreversible stage of periodontal disease. In other words, practising proper oral hygiene will no longer work at this stage of the disease.

The patient may experience:

• bone loss
• loss of the periodontal ligament attachment
• tooth mobility (loose teeth)
• tooth loss in severe cases
• gum inflammation
• gum recession
• gum bleeding
• red or purple gums
• feeling pain while chewing or biting
• drainage of pus
• recurrent painful abscesses
• spaces opening between the teeth
• having a foul-like taste in your mouth
• bad breath

Can periodontitis go away on its own? Periodontitis will not go away on its own and needs urgent oral care by a dental expert. If periodontitis is left untreated, the infection will continue, and bacteria will turn into disease-causing bacteria that can destroy the teeth and their supporting tissues (bone and periodontal ligament). As a result of untreated advanced periodontitis:

• Bone loss will occur.
• The patient will experience severe halitosis.
• Gums will become extremely inflamed, with pus coming out of them.
• The patient will experience loosening of the teeth and even tooth loss.

Untreated advanced periodontitis will increase people’s risk of tooth loss and the need for dentures.

How can gum disease be prevented? Modifying your oral hygiene routine can help prevent gum disease.

• Brush your teeth at least twice daily
• Make sure you clean between your teeth; using interdental brushes can help
• Clean your tongue every time you brush your teeth
• Floss to get rid of food debris from between your teeth
• Rinse your mouth with a therapeutic mouthwash to reduce plaque buildup
• Avoid tobacco products as much as you can
• Use fluoride toothpaste
• Limit your intake of sugary foods and drinks
• Wash your mouth after eating and drinking sugary foods and drinks
• Schedule professional teeth cleanings

How do they test for gum disease? A professional dental examination is needed to determine the type and severity of the periodontal disease.

• Your dentist or dental hygienist will begin by going through your medical and dental history and asking about contributing factors such as smoking and medications that cause dry mouth.
• The dental expert will then perform a thorough oral examination to check signs of inflammation, plaque, and tartar buildup.
• A small ruler called “a dental probe” will be used to check the pocket depth of the gums. The dental probe will be placed at six places surrounding the tooth under the gum line to measure the pocket depth between the tooth and the gums. The depth of these pockets is supposed to be between 1 and 3 millimetres (mm) in a healthy mouth. Pocket depth more than 4 mm can indicate gum disease. Dental X-Rays may be needed to check signs of bone loss.

How can gum disease be cured? The treatment options will be different from person to person and based on the severity of the gum disease. For early to moderate stages of periodontal disease, your dental expert may opt for non-surgical procedures such as Scaling, Root Planing, and Antibiotics. For more advanced stages, surgical options like Flap surgery, Soft tissue grafts, Bone grafting, Guided tissue regeneration, and Tissue-stimulating proteins may be required.

No, scaling and planning are not painful since your dentist will use a local anesthetic to minimize any pain or discomfort. To accelerate the healing process, avoid smoking or using spit tobacco.

Are antibiotics prescribed to treat gum disease? The dentist may also prescribe oral and topical antibiotics to supplement the scaling and root planning procedure to reduce the risk of disease-causing bacteria. The common antibiotics typically prescribed for gum disease include Amoxicillin, Metronidazole, Tetracycline, Clindamycin, Ciprofloxacin, and Azithromycin. Always consult with your dentist and doctor.