Created 22/6/2015
Updated 12/15/2023
Most of the time, we devote special attention to the care of our teeth but we forget about the area that gives them support, stability and life: our gums.
Healthy gums are synonymous with cleanliness and oral care, which in turn will have a positive impact on our teeth over time. It is important to be very attentive to have healthy gums, because if problems that arise in a simple way are overlooked, they can trigger serious dental problems that can even lead to the loss of teeth.
This time we want to explain how you can detect when your gums are sick, the consequences of not treating them in time and the solution to eradicate or improve the problem.
What are the predisposing factors for gum disease?
To fully understand the factors that can make a person prone to gum problems, it is important to delve into the fundamentals of oral health. When we do not brush our teeth properly, dental plaque accumulates. This plaque, if left untouched, finds a perfect breeding ground in the gum tissues, leading to the development of periodontal disease. However, it is also critical to recognize that certain groups of people are more susceptible to experiencing gum problems. These groups include pregnant women, people with diabetes, smokers and women in menopause.
Scientific research has shown that these factors can increase the likelihood of developing periodontitis, a condition characterized by inflammation and infection of the gums. Therefore, while maintaining good oral hygiene practices, it is equally important for people in these specific groups to be vigilant and take additional steps to protect the health of their gums. Regular dental checkups, proper brushing and flossing techniques, and seeking professional advice can help minimize the risk of gum problems and maintain overall oral wellness.
Are my gums healthy?
Gum disease is caused by inflammation in the area around the tooth called the periodontium, which is the area that supports each of your teeth.
Generally, when the periodontium is diseased, it has an inflammation that will gradually -but constantly- rise to the gums, it will appear as a simple gingivitis and can trigger a severe periodontitis, that is why it is so important to keep healthy gums.
Warning signs that your gums are sick:
- When biting you notice that you leave traces of blood on the bitten food.
- When you brush your teeth, they begin to bleed without clenching too hard.
- Blood loss is sporadic but always present.
- You notice that when you press on the gum area it feels lumpy or swollen and you may even feel pain.
- You notice bad odor coming from your gums
- There is suppuration
- You notice your teeth are weak and even feel them move
- You can see more and more of the lower part of your tooth and it looks more yellow than usual.
- You frequently have mouth ulcers.
If you present one or more of these symptoms, you need to visit your dental clinic immediately to have your gum health evaluated. It can be anything from a simple problem to something really worrying. Keeping your gums permanently healthy will make many dental problems disappear.
Regular check-ups with your dentist are essential to prevent oral disease and maintain healthy gums throughout your life. At IMOI Dental Clinics in Barcelona and Ibiza we have a gum maintenance program for our patients.
Book an appointment now and we will perform a CT scan and a Premium Dental Study totally free, to know how you have your gums. Go to this section to see all the free treatments and studies that you will receive on your first visit to our clinics.
What gum diseases can you have?
The most common gingivitis is
gingivitis
gingivitis, which is characterized because your gums bleed with a bright red color either when you bite something hard or something soft. They may also bleed when you have your teeth cleaned or flossed. There should be no accumulation of blood in the gums, much less have a bad odor or inflammation because that clearly represents a health problem.
When gingivitis is not treated in time, it can trigger a chronic, progressive degenerative disease consisting of three stages: initial, moderate and severe. periodontitis a chronic, progressive degenerative disease consisting of three stages: initial, moderate and severe.
When periodontitis has attacked your periodontium, it begins to weaken them in such a way that they start to be worn down; but the damage doesn’t stop there, this disease also destroys the bone of the tooth. so when periodontitis is at its most critical stage it can even cause the patient to lose teeth.
The color of your gums can provide valuable information about your oral health. Healthy gums are characterized by their pink color, free of inflammation, bleeding or noticeable redness. Maintaining the health of your gums requires regular visits to your dentist, ideally twice a year, for a thorough cleaning to remove plaque buildup. It is also essential to maintain proper daily oral hygiene practices at home to prevent possible health problems.
However, it is important to note that the color of the gums may also indicate certain underlying diseases. If your gums have a pale pink or white color, it could be a sign of anemia. On the other hand, bright red gums may indicate inflammation. If your gums appear dark, with black or brown tones, it could be due to factors such as ethnic or endocrine pigmentation, the use of anti-malarial drugs or even a possible sign of Addison’s disease.
To ensure early detection of any dental problem, it is essential to seek professional diagnosis. Your dentist can identify problems such as dental fistulas, which can cause complications if left untreated. By being aware of the color of your gums and performing regular dental checkups, you can take proactive steps to maintain optimal oral health.
But, why do gums get sick?
Well, to answer that question we need to go back to the beginning: oral health. Generally, when we brush our teeth poorly, plaque starts to grow. This plaque begins to grow and find an ideal place to continue reproducing bacteria in your periodontium, so it accumulates and gets trapped in your tooth causing tooth disease.
How do you know if your gums are healthy? Very simple, if you know beforehand that your tooth brushing is deficient, that your visits to the dental clinic are the least and you have noticed blood in your gums at least a couple of times, it is almost a fact that your gums are not healthy.
Don’t be alarmed, it’s time to take action and take care of your health before there are more serious complications.
Is it possible to stop the progression of gum disease?
Yes. Of course, it is possible to relieve and stop gum disease. What is irreversible is the damage that complications such as periodontitis do to the bone of your teeth.
For the case of the GingivitisIf you have any questions, the relief is very simple: just go to an appointment at your local dental clinic. IMOI where you can have a deep cleaning, this cleaning is done by removing all the plaque and bacteria accumulated in your gums that also form the tartar on your teeth. There will be blood but it will be minimal and the result will be spectacular.
Once the cleaning is done, your IMOI doctor will explain to you the hygiene measures that you should take, which are extremely important to avoid this problem and to maintain healthy gums.
In the case of periodontitis, things get a bit more complicated but still have a solution: following the basic principle of gingivitis cureHere we also need to remove all the dental plaque that has accumulated; however, depending on the level of advancement of the disease, the treatment may be more or less invasive and will always require a saliva analysis to detect the bacteria that have caused the infection and give you the appropriate antibiotic.
To make it clearer, we have to say that the infection goes up your gum as the periodontitis progresses, when you have an initial level it is easy to clean the affected area; however, when the level of infection is severe it may even require a surgical intervention to drain and scrape the entire diseased area.
Unfortunately, when the patient has let too much time pass and has already worn down his periodontium or the tooth bone, nothing can be done but to remove the tooth and continue the preventive treatment so that this serious gum disease does not reappear.
In conclusion.
You have healthy gums when they do not present any type of inflammation or blood leakage, when they do not have a bad odor or considerable redness. To keep them healthy, it is necessary to visit your dentist at least twice a year for a deep cleaning to remove the accumulation of plaque and of course, daily at home to perform a proper oral hygiene to avoid health problems.
If you have any questions, use the chat on the page and our dentists will help you.
