Do you take good care of your teeth and gums?
When brushing your teeth, this is the perfect time to inspect the teeth and gums to make sure that they are healthy. One of the biggest signs of gum disease is when your gums are bleeding.
We don’t mean on a regular basis. We mean that when you’ve brushed your teeth and rinse out, you may be seeing blood in your sink. You may just think that it’s normal or brush it off. Perhaps this is just what happens whenever you brush and floss.
But what you may have initially chalked up to brushing a bit too hard or the bristles of your brush may indicate something much more. Bleeding when you brush can be a sign that there is a bigger issue and that gum disease is present.
Believe it or not, when the gums bleed, this is one of the primary signs that they are dealing with an infection. This infection has the ability to progress and have an extremely negative impact on your oral health and your health overall. That means it is a big deal– don’t keep ignoring it!
The first time that you see blood should be the motivating factor and you should make a dental appointment immediately! The dentist will be able to evaluate what’s going on, give recommendations, and even perform treatment dental work if it is required.
Gum Disease Complications
What is gum disease? At its heart, it’s an infection that occurs due to bacteria that have been sitting in accumulations of tartar and plaque. This is why good oral hygiene can become so important. What you do or do not do is going to either keep your teeth and gums happy or send them further down a progressive road of infection and decay that could lead to tooth loss and much more.
The proper care at home and dental appointments can prevent this. Most adults do have some type of infection like this but don’t even know it. Beginning signs be gums that are red or bleeding or swollen, progressing in its severity. The infection over time will start to destroy teeth and their supporting structures, causing damage such as tooth loss that cannot be reversed.
Bacteria from this gum disease can also get into your bloodstream. As they move through your body, the havoc caused to general health will be devastating. It increases the risk that you may have heart problems, respiratory disease, complications from diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and more.
Protecting Your Health
While it is treatable and able to be reversed, this is only in the early stage (called gingivitis). The dentist may need to do a very deep cleaning that removes accumulations of tartar and plaque that can help reduce build ups in the future.
You should make any changes to your routine or oral care as well to prevent or stave off any infections. Treating it early will keep it from destroying your teeth and protecting your oral health. Make a treatment plan, change your brushing and oral habits, and be healthy!
Restore Oral Health Today
Get in touch with your dentist so that you can seek treatment and protect your smile!