Gum disease is one of the most common oral health conditions that there is—it’s been estimated that around 50% of adults have some kind of periodontal illness, anywhere from mild to severe, and in the less advanced cases they may not even be aware of it.
This is partially because gum disease is pretty poorly understood among the average person. Considering how ubiquitous it is, you may want to learn a little bit more about what having gum disease entails. Here are some things you may not know about this all-too-common condition.
Gum Disease and Diabetes
Dentistry is a distinct specialty from the rest of medicine, which often leads people to erroneously think that the teeth don’t really have much to do with the rest of your health. In truth, there’s a myriad of ways that the quality of your oral health could contribute to your overall wellness.
An excellent example is the connection between gum disease and diabetes. Gum disease causes your blood sugar to go haywire, which can increase your risk of developing diabetes further down the line.
How Gum Disease Changes Over Time
Gum disease is typically a consequence of bacterial infection. However, unlike some other illnesses, the body isn’t very good at dealing with the bacteria that live in the mouth, meaning that gum disease isn’t really something that will go away on its own.
In fact, gum disease is typically degenerative, meaning that it only gets worse with time if it’s not treated. That means that if you suspect that your gums are in bad shape, you should talk with your dentist to deal with the issue quickly.
Gum Disease Is Preventable
While it’s clearly very prominent, there are also plenty of ways to make sure that you don’t have to deal with gum disease. It really involves doing things that you’re probably already plenty familiar with, like brushing, flossing, and making regular trips to the dentist’s office.
You could also make certain changes to your diet. Cut out sugary foods that could feed the bacteria in the mouth, or at the very least, brush thoroughly after eating them.
About Our Practice
We know that not everyone loves their dentist, and if you’re one of them, the team here at South Ridge Dental would be happy to change your mind. We believe that prevention is the best medicine when it comes to dentistry, which is why we put patient education at the center of what we do. However, we also love being able to help patients overcome serious oral health problems, and we tailor the treatment we provide to them specifically.
If you have any questions about gum disease, we can be reached at our website or by phone at (402) 423-1616.