Dental Health Week 2024: Let’s Talk About Gums
The first full week of August is Dental Health Week, the Australian Dental Association (ADA)’s annual campaign dedicated to raising awareness of common oral health issues and how they can be prevented. This year’s theme is ‘Lets Talk About Gums,’ highlighting the pervasive problem of gum disease that affects as many as 1 in 4 Aussies.
If your gums are red, swollen or bleed when you brush your teeth, it’s important to see a dentist for gum disease treatment before it causes permanent damage. To see a dentist in Mosman, call our clinic on (02) 9969 8610 or book an appointment online.
What is gum disease?
Gum disease, also called periodontal disease, is the irritation and inflammation of the gums caused by bacteria that build up on the teeth around the gumline.
In its early stage (gingivitis), the gums may appear red or purple, may become swollen or puffy, and may be prone to bleeding when you brush or floss. Gingivitis can usually be reversed by improving your oral hygiene and having treatments at a dental clinic.
If gingivitis isn’t treated in time, it can develop into the advanced stage of gum disease (periodontitis). This can cause permanent damage of the gums and structures supporting the teeth, leading to problems like gum recession and tooth loss. Periodontitis needs treatment by an experienced dentist.
What happens if gum disease isn’t treated?
Delaying gum disease treatment doesn’t only increase oral health risks. Severe gum disease is also an associated risk factor for developing a range of health conditions or complicating an existing problem, including heart disease, diabetes, stroke and pregnancy issues.
Gum disease doesn’t usually cause pain in its early stage, and may not always have obvious symptoms, so it can sneak up on you. Taking care of your teeth and gums every day and keeping up with your regular dental visits can help to lower your risks.
How can I prevent gum disease?
The good news about gum disease is that it can be prevented by caring for your gums. According to the ADA, half of Australians think gum care is less important than teeth care, but it’s important to clean around the gumline when brushing and flossing to remove bacteria in plaque that could irritate or infect the gums.
When brushing your teeth, angle the toothbrush head to brush around your gums and make sure you spend an equal amount of time cleaning all parts of your mouth. When flossing, tuck the floss slightly under the gum. If you don’t feel comfortable using floss, your dentist can discuss other option such as an interdental brush or water flosser.
You can also lower your gum disease risk by cutting down on sugar in your diet, not smoking, and visiting the dentist once or twice a year for your check-up and preventive care.
Do you need to see a Mosman dentist about your gums?
If you’re worried that you might have signs of gum disease, or it’s just been longer than 6 months since your last check-up and clean, make an appointment with our dentists at Mosman 3D Dental. Call our friendly team on (02) 9969 8610 or contact us today.