Your gums are easy to take for granted. They may seem to play a supporting role next to teeth in your smile, but in reality, they are just as essential! In fact, your gums serve an incredibly important purpose and can have a substantial impact on your health and quality of life. Here are just three reasons you should pay attention to and take good care of your gums every day.
To Keep Your Natural Teeth
If you want to eat or smile, you need teeth! Unfortunately, tooth loss is extremely common. About 178 million American adults have lost at least one permanent tooth, and about 40 million have no natural teeth left at all. What does this have to do with gums? Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults!
When gums become infected with inflammation-causing bacteria, they detach and pull away from teeth, creating pockets where more plaque can accumulate and hide. The infection then spreads to the jawbone and deteriorates it, severely weakening stability for teeth. Without early treatment, a tooth will feel loose or come out entirely.
Although replacement teeth can look nearly identical to natural teeth, the pearly whites you were born with are still generally better than prosthetic ones. With natural teeth, you can do things like more easily gauge how hard to bite down on a piece of food and sense the temperature of foods and beverages faster to prevent burns inside your mouth. Dental implants offer an amazing option for replacement, but if you can hold onto your real teeth as long as possible, maintaining your gums is well worth the effort!
To Help Your Heart Health
Gum health doesn’t only impact your mouth—it can affect major systems in your body, especially your heart. If you have untreated gum disease, the inflammatory bacteria that cause gum disease can access the bloodstream. Specifically, these bacteria can travel and exacerbate inflammation in key cardiovascular areas throughout the body, significantly increasing your risk of developing heart disease or experiencing a potentially life-threatening event like a heart attack or stroke.
To Support Brain Health
Like the heart, the brain can be negatively impacted by gum disease bacteria. In fact, researchers have found that gum disease and tooth loss are associated with shrinkage of the hippocampus, a contributing factor in Alzheimer’s disease, and with brain decline in general.
Ultimately, your gums may seem insignificant at a glance, but a healthy smile depends on them. Also, although excellent oral care doesn’t guarantee perfect health and a long life, taking care of your entire mouth, both gums and teeth, through daily brushing and flossing and regular dental visits can contribute to a beautiful smile and a happier life.
About the Practice
At Beck Dental Care of Columbia, our dentists may come from various backgrounds, but they all support and encourage strong gum health. Whether you need gum disease treatment or want to prevent it through routine checkups and cleanings, we can help you maintain a healthy smile. To schedule an appointment at our practice, call us at 931-388-8452 or reach out to us online here.