{"id":84,"date":"2019-09-19T17:48:39","date_gmt":"2019-09-19T17:48:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.familydentistcarrollton.com\/blog\/?p=84"},"modified":"2019-09-19T17:48:51","modified_gmt":"2019-09-19T17:48:51","slug":"september-gum-disease-in-carrollton","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.familydentistcarrollton.com\/blog\/2019\/09\/september-gum-disease-in-carrollton\/","title":{"rendered":"National Gum Care Month: Protecting Your Smile and Your Health"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Gum<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

If you think you\u2019ll\nknow when there\u2019s a problem in your mouth, you might want to think again. The\nCDC has found that almost half of all adults over the age of 30 in the United\nStates have gum disease, but many of them don\u2019t even realize it. At first, the\ncondition can be painless, but if left untreated, you might start to lose your\nteeth, and you could even be at a higher risk for life-threatening health\nissues! That\u2019s why this September, your dentist is celebrating National Gum\nCare Month; it\u2019s the perfect opportunity to learn more about avoiding gum\ndisease in Carrollton.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

What Exactly Is Gum Disease?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Gum disease is also called periodontal disease and is the\nresult of the gums, ligaments and bone around the teeth becoming infected and\ninflamed. The earliest stage is gingivitis. The bacterial toxins in plaque will\ncause your gums to become red and swollen; you might also notice persistent bad\nbreath or some blood on your toothbrush and dental floss. Eventually, the\nplaque hardens into tartar, leading to periodontitis. This is a much more\nsevere condition that pulls the gum tissues away from the teeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gingivitis can often be cured with a simple routine cleaning\nat the dentist\u2019s office in addition to practicing good oral hygiene at home.\nPeriodontitis, on the other hand, is much harder to treat, and if it\u2019s left\nalone the bone and ligaments holding your teeth in place could be destroyed,\nleading to gaps in your smile. Worse yet, the bacteria in your gums could enter\nyour bloodstream and cause damage in other parts of the body, increasing the\nchances of suffering from a heart attack, a respiratory infection, and other\ndangerous conditions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Can You Protect Your Gums?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The good news is that keeping your gums clean and healthy is\neasy! You just need to make sure you\u2019re always maintaining the right habits,\nwhether it\u2019s at work or at home. This includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n