Most of us throughout the Treasure Valley take care of our teeth by brushing and flossing regularly. However, good gum health is often overlooked. Healthy gums are essential when it comes to maintaining healthy teeth. Any Boise dentist will tell you that if you don’t look after your gums, you are in danger of losing your teeth.
Healthy gums are usually a nice pale pink and feel firm to the touch while fitting snuggly around your teeth. In contrast, unhealthy gums can be inflamed, dark red, and bleed quite easily, especially after brushing and flossing. They can also feel tender or sore if you touch them. Unhealthy gums may also have gaps or pockets in between your gums and teeth where they have begun to pull away. Pockets such as these are a particular problem as they are usually a good indication of gum disease – a bacterial infection that produces inflammation that destroys the gums.
Gum disease is a bacterial infection that can develop when bacteria builds up in your mouth to such an extent that your body’s immune system cannot fight back. Failing to brush and floss properly can increase plaque bacteria that builds up over your teeth and gums daily. Inflammation can then develop due to the fight between your immune system and this bacteria. Initially, your gums may start to bleed slightly whenever you brush or floss, or you may notice that your teeth look slightly longer than before as your gums begin to pull away from your teeth and recede.
At this stage, it’s important to take quick action by visiting your Boise dentist at Summit Dental Group. Early signs of gum disease can be treated easily – helping to eradicate this condition completely. However, these signs are easy to miss all too often, enabling the disease to progress into something much more serious – periodontitis.
Early gum disease or gingivitis can be easily treated by scheduling an appointment with your Boise dentist. A Boise teeth cleaning can also help to remove the hardened plaque bacteria from your teeth, providing your gums with a fighting chance against infection. At the same time, your Boise dental hygienist will provide you with useful information and practical advice on how to take care of your teeth and gums at home. They will show you the best way to brush your teeth at the correct angles to enable the bristles of your toothbrush to reach right down to and just below the gum line where plaque generally builds up. If you struggle with flossing, ask your Boise dentist for advice, as it’s essential that you brush and floss regularly to help eradicate any sign of gum disease.
If you are overdue for a dental check-up or have noticed that your gums tend to bleed when you brush and floss, we encourage you to schedule an appointment at Summit Dental Group. Quick action can help save your gums and teeth. Contact us by filling out our online form or give our downtown office a call at (208) 314-2275 to schedule an appointment.
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