05 Oct How to Fix Unhealthy Gums
Do your gums seem unhealthy? Without treatment, unhealthy gums can become painful and can even affect your smile. While you can’t fix unhealthy gums overnight, there are many steps you can take to strengthen your gums and restore your smile. At Prescott Dentistry, we provide a variety of holistic treatments that will help. Let’s take a closer look at what causes unhealthy gums and how to make them healthy again.
What Causes Unhealthy Gums?
Poor oral hygiene is the main cause of unhealthy gums—neglecting to brush and floss your teeth leads to a buildup of plaque along your gumline. The bacteria in plaque attack your gums, causing chronic inflammation that results in gum disease. Medically known as periodontal disease, gum disease is an infection that wreaks havoc on your gums and eventually on the rest of your mouth, too.
Five Signs of Unhealthy Gums
1: Inflammation
Healthy gums are light pink and firm—they shouldn’t look red, swollen, or feel painful to touch. Gum inflammation is typically a result of gum disease.
2: Bleeding
Bleeding during brushing and flossing isn’t normal. Bleeding gums can be a sign that you are brushing or flossing your teeth too hard. However, it can also be an early warning sign of gum disease, so it’s important to have bleeding gums checked out by your dentist.
3: Bad Breath
The bacteria that cause gum disease can cause persistent bad breath, also known as halitosis. If good oral hygiene and mouthwash don’t freshen up your breath, it’s likely because your gums are unhealthy.
4: Gum Recession
Gum disease can cause receding gums, which is when your gums begin to pull away from your teeth. If your teeth look longer than normal or you notice pockets of plaque in your gums, contact your dentist right away to stop further gum recession.
5: Loose Teeth
Unless you suffered an injury, loose teeth are usually another sign of gum disease. As gum disease progresses, it weakens your gums and jaw, leading to loose teeth and tooth loss.
How to Fix Unhealthy Gums
Good Oral Hygiene
The first step in preventing and treating gum disease is a good oral hygiene routine. You can strengthen your gums at home by brushing your teeth twice a day for two minutes at a time, and flossing every day.
It’s also important to use fluoride toothpaste to help you build strong teeth and eliminate harmful bacteria in your mouth. If you have concerns about the safety of fluoride, there are plenty of natural alternatives you can use instead to strengthen your teeth and gums.
Professional Teeth Cleanings
If you have gingivitis, the first stage of gum disease, a professional teeth cleaning is often enough to fix your unhealthy gums. Twice-a-year dental cleanings eliminate the plaque and bacteria that you can’t reach with at-home dental care. If gum disease has advanced beyond gingivitis, you may need more frequent cleanings to keep your mouth healthy.
Ozone Therapy
Depending on the severity of damage to your gums, you may need additional treatment to restore your gum health. At Prescott Dentistry, we offer ozone therapy to help reduce harmful bacteria in your mouth and promote gum healing. Ozone therapy for gums is minimally invasive—all it involves is applying ozonated water, oil, or ozone gas to your gums.
Quit Smoking
Smoking weakens your immune system, which makes it difficult for your body to fight off gum disease and other health issues. Smoking can also cause chronic inflammation and dry mouth, both of which are associated with gum disease. Quitting smoking is essential for strengthening your teeth and gums, as well as improving your overall health.
Holistic Treatment for Unhealthy Gums in Prescott, Arizona
If your gums appear unhealthy, you’ll need treatment right away to preserve your smile. At Prescott Dentistry in Arizona, we offer a variety of holistic dental treatments like ozone therapy and specialty services that can fix unhealthy gums. Call our office today at 928-445-1660 to schedule an appointment.
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (10/5/2022). Photo by Caroline LM on Unsplash