How to Celebrate National Gum Care Month by Preventing Gum Disease

September is a lot of things: Hispanic Heritage Month, Baby Safety Month, and National Italian Cheese Month, to name a few. But did you know it’s also National Gum Care Month? That’s right, there’s an entire month of the year dedicated to making sure your gums are in excellent health. How can you best celebrate this month? Continue reading to learn more about the importance of taking care of your gums and preventing gum disease.

Why Gums Are So Important

When we talk about brushing and flossing, we mainly do it in the context of keeping our teeth healthy. However, your gums are just as important to the health of your mouth, and even to the rest of your body. Your gums protect the sensitive roots of your teeth from being exposed to painful stimuli. If you don’t take care of your gums, they can start receding, leading to all sorts of health problems.

All About Gum Disease

What is gum disease? It’s a serious bacterial infection that usually occurs as a result of poor dental hygiene. If you catch it in the early stage, known as gingivitis, the symptoms can be reversed. You can avoid the more advanced stage, called periodontal disease, which presents more severe issues like receding gums and requires more extensive treatment. Tell your dentist if you experience any of the following symptoms of gum disease:

• Red or swollen gums
• Gums that bleed when you brush and floss
• Receding gumline, resulting in teeth that look “longer”
• Loose or shifting teeth
• Pus oozing from your gums
• Bump or sore on your gums
• Pockets between your teeth and gums

If you don’t get gum disease treated soon enough, the bacteria in your mouth could spread to other parts of your body, causing problems like:

• Cardiovascular disease
• Digestive issues
• Birth complications in pregnant women
• Diabetes
• Dementia

How to Care for Your Gums

Fortunately, most of these problems can be prevented by taking good care of your gums. That includes following steps like:

• Brushing your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste
• Flossing at least once every day
• Quitting smoking or chewing tobacco
• Keeping consumption of sugary foods and drinks to a minimum
• Visiting your dentist every six months for a checkup and professional cleaning

Flossing more is the best way to clean your gums and remove plaque that can cause gum disease from between your teeth. That and regular dental visits are great ways to celebrate National Gum Care Month this September and all year round!

About the Author

Dr. Drew Beaty has more than two decades of experience in the dental field so far. He attended dental school at Northwestern University in Chicago. He is dedicated to staying on top of modern dentistry, as shown by the fact that he takes more than 100 hours of continuing education courses a year, which is four times the amount required by the Washington State Department of Health. If you think you may have gum disease, don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Beaty by clicking here or calling (253) 839-6544.