Sadly, gum health simply does not seem to be that big of a deal to people despite the fact that periodontal disease is a condition that millions of people suffer from on a yearly basis. While we all seem to have received the message about taking care of our teeth to stop tooth decay, gum disease prevention seems to be a topic that few medical professionals take the time to educate patients about. And yet, if gum disease treatment is not taken seriously, then it is entirely possible for your teeth to loosen and eventually fall out when the condition worsens and spreads throughout your oral cavity. Here are some other major problems that should help make gum disease prevention a bigger priority for some:
- Weakened immune system
- Lesions on gingival tissue
- Bleeding gums that are painful to the touch
- Chronic and severe halitosis
- Increased chances for coronary artery disease, systemic infection, and stroke
The key to preventing gum disease and the advanced problems which may follow boils down to focusing upon the anaerobic bacteria which are constantly present in your mouth. These dangerous microbes thrive in low-oxygen environments.
Plaque is a thin, sticky film which forms our teeth. The harmful bacteria grow faster behind this layer of plaque because the oxygen present in your saliva cannot penetrate behind the thin film. If the plaque is not removed, it will actually harden until it becomes tartar. Unlike plaque which can be removed by brushing and flossing regularly, tartar is too hard and must be scraped away by a dentist.
Treatment of gum disease becomes necessary once tartar has formed on your teeth. The bacteria that cause gum disease breed even faster behind the tartar and they will eventually create an infection in the gingival tissue (your gums). Saliva, which is high in concentrations of both oxygen and specialized enzymes, naturally helps prevent gum disease by helping to control the bacteria population. Saliva is therefore your first line of defense against gum disease and tooth decay and you need to avoid any behaviors that may cause dehydration and a loss of saliva, such as:
- Drinking Alcoholic Beverages
- Consuming Any Caffeinated Products: Tea, Coffee, or Caffeinated Beverages
- Stimulants, Such As Those Found In Laxatives And Diet Pills
- Excessive Physical Activity Without Proper Rest And Hydration (1/2-2/3 oz. of water for every pound of body weight
Gum disease prevention is not difficult and making sure to properly hydrate yourself and avoid anything that may dehydrate you is a great first step towards avoiding the serious medical consequences that can occur should the condition worsen. However, if gum problems already exist, treatment should be sought immediately by a periodontist who can recommend and implement a plan to treat the condition before it gets any worse.
For an all natural product that helps stimulate salivation as well as help kill the harmful anaerobic bacteria inside your mouth, try OraMD®. OraMD® is an all-natural gum disease product made from the essential oils of almond, spearmint, and peppermint. OraMD® offers a long-term solution for gum disease and other periodontal problems by cleaning the mouth and killing the bacteria that cause volatile sulfur compounds, or VSC’s.
