Healthy Gums Mean Happy Teeth
- Posted on: Apr 15 2018
Do you ever wonder why you have gums? Other than the cosmetic benefits, what exactly are gums and why do we need them? Your gums are important to not only your teeth but also your overall health. Part of good dental hygiene is to keep the gums healthy.
Why Gums are Important
If you have been to the dentist at least a few times in your life, much of the focus seems to be on your teeth, but your dentist and hygienist are also paying close attention to your gums. Even though your teeth are anchored into your jaw bone, the gums also keep your teeth in place, as well as absorb some force of impacts and help with oral hygiene. Your gums stick to your teeth thanks to special ligaments.
Gingivitis and Periodontitis
The clinical word for the gums is “gingiva,” and gingivitis is a disease of the gums. The gums, ligaments and tooth socket are known as the “periodontium,” and periodontitis describes any problems that affect these structures. A person can have gingivitis without having periodontitis, but having periodontitis means that your gums have been affected by poor oral hygiene.
Treating Gum Disease
Gum disease can evolve into periodontitis, but early treatment prevents bone loss and other issues. The gums typically start to pull away from the teeth, or recede. To stop gum disease, the teeth need to be cleaned below the gum line. This is a more involved process that your routine cleaning. After a series of these cleanings, the gums with re-adhere to the teeth and prevent bacteria from penetrating deeper into the tissues and destroying bone. A technique that is used to detect gum disease and periodontitis is measuring the pockets around each tooth. Healthy gums have small pockets. The deeper the pockets, the deeper the bacteria has penetrated below the gum line.
Find Out If Your Gums are Healthy. Contact Deeter Dental Group.
To learn more about routine dental exams, treatment for gum disease, dental implants, and our other services, contact Deeter Dental Group today to schedule an appointment. We have three experienced dentists who specialize in general and cosmetic dentistry, as well as orthodontics and oral surgery. You can call our office in Bismarck at (701) 222-1800, and our office in Garrison at (701) 463-2884.
Posted in: Periodontics
