When it comes to oral health, the state of your teeth is probably the first thing you think of. While caring for your pearly whites is important, oral health goes far beyond that!

More than just a frame for our smiles, our gums play a pivotal role in our overall health. Unhealthy gums can be a sign of more than just poor oral health. They can indicate:

• Inflammation in the body
• A higher risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other conditions

Gum disease is also “associated with an increased risk of all causes of mortality and increased mortality for other chronic diseases.”

Your gum health is an essential part of your oral and overall health.

What are gums?

According to the Cleveland Clinic, gums are “tissues that surround the base of your teeth and help keep them in place.”

Your gums help support the roots of your teeth and protect your jawbone, the bone structure that houses your teeth. Healthy gums vary in color but are generally light or dark pink or brown and feel firm to the touch. If your gum health is poor, your teeth may feel loose, sensitive, or look longer due to the tissue pulling away from them.

Pro tip: If you have swollen or bleeding gums, this may be a sign of early gum disease. Be sure to talk to your dentist about any changes in your gums.

Gum health is a window to your overall health

Although swollen, bleeding, or painful gums may not seem like anything to worry about, those symptoms are all signs of gum disease. Gum disease usually starts in a mild form called gingivitis but can progress to a severe condition called periodontitis without proper treatment.

Periodontitis occurs when irritation or swelling of the gum tissue surrounding your teeth becomes filled with bacteria, plaque, and tartar, causing it to become infected. This carries the risk of bacteria entering your bloodstream through the gum tissue, which can impact other parts of the body and cause ongoing inflammation. This stress on your body may lead to other serious health problems.

A study from the Journal of Dental Research found that “periodontitis was significantly associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality and deaths due to [cardiovascular diseases], cancer, coronary heart disease (CHD), and cerebrovascular diseases, but not pneumonia.”

The study suggests the bacteria from severe gum disease can lead to systemic inflammation, growth of fatty materials inside arteries, and unhealthy levels of cholesterol or fats in the blood. These are all known risk factors for serious medical problems, including heart disease.

For more information about gum disease check out, Oral Health Basics: All About Gum Disease.

Gum health should be taken very seriously. If you notice any changes in the condition of your gums, contact your dentist and schedule an appointment.

How to take care of your gum health

Good oral hygiene and seeing your dentist on a regular basis are some of the best ways to care for your gums. Brushing your teeth with fluoride toothpaste twice a day, flossing daily, and receiving a preventive cleaning and exam twice a year are all necessary for quality gum health. If you notice any changes, such as bleeding that won’t stop or swelling in your gums, your dentist may want to see you more often.

If you’ve been diagnosed with gum disease, it’s important to be seen by an oral health professional to treat it and stop it from worsening. Treatments will depend on the severity of your case.

Non-surgical treatments for mild cases may include:

• Tooth scaling: A procedure that eliminates plaque and tartar from the tooth’s root below the gum line, typically carried out using a vibrating tool or a manual scraping device.
• Root planing: Root planing, akin to tooth scaling, involves gently moving the gums to clear away tartar and plaque below the gum line.
• Laser treatments: Lasers can clear tartar and plaque away from the gums. The correct wavelength and power levels must be used to avoid damage to the gums.
• Antibiotics: Antibiotics can clear any infection associated with a gum disease diagnosis.

Severe cases may need surgical treatments such as:

• Gum grafts: Gum graft surgery is a procedure aimed at covering exposed roots and preventing further recession and bone loss. In this surgery, your periodontist utilizes gum tissue from your palate or another donor source to cover the exposed roots.
• Periodontal pocket reduction: In a periodontal pocket procedure, your periodontist carefully lifts the gum tissue, eliminating disease-causing bacteria before repositioning and securing the tissue. This process enables the gum tissue to reattach more effectively to healthy bone, promoting overall oral health.
• Regenerative procedures: In this procedure, the periodontist gently lifts the gum tissue, eliminating disease-causing bacteria. Membranes, bone grafts, or tissue-stimulating proteins might be applied to enhance your body’s natural regenerative abilities, promoting the regrowth of bone and tissue.

Taking care of your gum health is an integral part of taking care of your health

Healthy gums mean more than a confident smile! By understanding the role your gum health plays in your overall health, adopting regular oral care habits, and going to a dentist consistently, you’re taking a big step to toward improving  your overall well-being.

For more information about the impact of gum disease, check out Oral Health Basics: All About Gum Disease.