Do You Have Gum Disease?

Let’s be honest, whether or not you have gum disease is not a question that most of us ask ourselves. But depending on your lifestyle, there are certain factors that will make you more susceptible to gum disease, which would therefore make this question more relevant than you think.

The most obvious sign that you might have gum disease is bleeding gums. This occurs usually when brushing teeth. But you might also notice that your gums look red and inflamed.

By the same token they could look pale and seem to be fading away or receding. If you notice that there is a discoloured rim around the base of your teeth, where your teeth meet your gum, then chances are you have gum disease. Then there are the other factors, your lifestyle choices which will increase your chances of being at risk to gum disease.

Top of the risk list is smoking. Recent studies have shown that eighty percent of smokers have the chance of developing gum disease. As well as staining the teeth with nasty tar, smoking cuts off the supply of oxygen to the gums. This means that the cells cannot regenerate in the right way and also means that it is easier for tooth enamel to be damaged. As the tar builds up in a smoker’s mouth, it clings in a slimy film to the teeth, wearing them down and causing infection under the gum.

The process can take years but it is slow and determined. By the time the average smoker hits thirty-five, it is not uncommon to see traces of black lines around the base of the tooth and on the gum. This is the start of gum disease.

Smoking is not the only contributor to ill health and gum disease. Modern life is stressful and research places stress top of the list as the cause for most major illnesses. Gum disease is no exception.

A life that runs to constant and relentless schedules will naturally be stressful. But different people manage stress in different ways. If you are the type of person that easily gets stressed out, it’s important to be aware of that and look for ways to reduce it by avoiding stressful situations.

Getting exercise is a great way to relieve stress and it is also important in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Get outdoors more and get your blood pumping is a good way to detoxify the body, ridding it of harmful toxins.

Minimizing the damage caused by gum disease is a way of life and a choice, but ultimately it is the right choice.