The health of your mouth greatly affects your overall health, as it is literally a gateway to your body. Studies have shown associations between poor gum health (gum disease) and serious general health complications like cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes and dementia. Gum disease is a bacterial infection that is curable in its early stages.
Listed below are some of the most frequent signs of gum disease.
· Bleeding gums when you brush or floss
· Gums that look swollen or red
· Receding gums, so your teeth look longer
· Persistently bad breath
· Lose teeth or a change in the way your teeth bite together
· Increased sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures
If you do notice any of these signs or are concerned about your gum health, please come and see us immediately. Often, the earliest signs of gum disease, called gingivitis, can be entirely reversed by professionally cleaning your teeth and improving your home oral care routine.
Otherwise, there is a real risk that gingivitis will develop into periodontitis, a condition that can cause tooth loss and which can ultimately affect your general health. This is why we suggest regular six-monthly checkups for everybody because often the early signs of gum disease are silent and easily overlooked. We’d far rather take a preventative approach to your oral health care.