The Threat of Gum Disease to Your Oral Health

While your gums are formidable, they are not as protected as your teeth, which are covered by highly resilient enamel. Nevertheless, your soft gingival tissue is largely responsible for sealing off and protecting your teeth’s roots, and when your gums are diseased, your entire oral health can be at risk. Today, we explain how you can protect your oral health from the significant threats of gum disease, and what those threats may entail if you leave gum disease untreated.

The Secrets of Oral Bacteria

The battle for your oral health involves a daily struggle for control with over 600 different kinds of oral bacteria. When enough of these germs gather, they form the sticky substance called plaque to protect them and adhere to your teeth and gums. Not all of these microbes are harmful; some may even be necessary to regulate your mouth’s delicate ecological balance. Others, however, can be more than a little detrimental to your good oral health.

Attacking Your Gum Tissues

One of the telltale signs that your gums are in trouble is when they become red and swollen. The inflammation is often accompanied by bleeding, as well. When bacterial plaque accumulates along your gum line, irritated gum tissue can pull away from your teeth (recede), creating periodontal pockets where more germs can collect and damage soft oral tissue. As gum disease progresses, it works to destroy the soft tissue that supports and protects the bottoms of your teeth. When left untreated, the disease can continue its destructive path and threaten your jawbone, attacking your smile’s foundation and its ability to securely support all of your teeth.

Protect Your Smile from Gum Disease

With good hygiene and regular care from your dentist, you can go a long way in protecting your smile from the significant threats of gum disease. To learn more, or to schedule an appointment with our dental health experts, call Cedar Dental in Cedar Rapids, IA, today at (319) 364-7108. We also welcome patients from Mount Vernon, Iowa City, Hiawatha, and all nearby communities.