When most people talk oral health, they’re referring to their teeth.
While your pearly whites are no doubt important, they’re not the only thing in your mouth you need to look after. A problem in one of them can lead to serious health ramifications beyond your mouth.
Case in point: your gums.
When ignored, unhealthy gums lead to complications such as gingivitis and periodontitis disease.
Regular visits and check-ups with your dentist in Armadale (as well as good oral hygiene) are the best defense against tooth and gum disease.
Here’s where things get a little bit difficult, though. How are you supposed to figure out whether your gums are healthy or not?
Symptom #1: Bleeding gums
Using a hard-bristled toothbrush and flossing your teeth too hard can cause bleeding, even in the healthiest of gums.
However, if you frequently notice that your gums regularly bleed every time you brush, it’s time to start worrying.
Healthy gums don’t bleed after routine brushes. Unhealthy ones do, however!
If you don’t brush properly, bacteria in your mouth forms a layer over your teeth and hardens to the point where it’s impossible to remove.
Any gum this plaque comes into contact become irritated – this makes them sensitive.
As a result, they’re more prone to bleeding when you brush.
Bleeding gums are one of the first signs of unhealthy gums. If your gums start bleeding with very little prompting, then you need to visit your dentist immediately for advice.
Your dentist in Armadale will help you apply good dental hygiene habits to attack the root causes of gum bleeding.
Symptom #2: Red and swollen gums
Healthy gums are usually pale pink in colour.
Swollen gums on the other hand are painful and are usually coloured dark pink, red, blue or even purple. Yikes!
In most cases, these problems are caused by plaque and bacteria build-up around your gum lines. In addition to causing bleeding gums, they can also cause infection.
The swelling and colour are your body’s natural defence against infection: sometimes, your body is able to fight off the infection on its own. In other cases, things don’t go according to plan.
Either way, it’s best to visit your Armadale dentist for immediate treatment.
Your local dentist will be able to evaluate the severity of the infection and draw up a plan of action that will set you back on the path towards healthy, pain-free gums.
Symptom #3: How unhealthy gums lead to bad breath
When most of us think of bad breath, we immediately think about the last thing we ate.
Food is a pretty big part of what makes bad breath. However, if your breath continues to turn people away even after changing up your diet, it might be time to start thinking about the health of your gums (and overall mouth).
Once again, bacteria is to blame for this one.
Gum infections often cause foul odours. If ignored, this can further lead to periodontal disease and serious gum infection.
Symptom #4: Gum pus
Poor oral hygiene can cause infection in your gums and teeth. Leave said infection for too long, and you could end up tasting pus in your mouth!
Yes, you heard that right. Pus. In your mouth.
If a gum infection reaches the point where it’s created abscesses and is leaking pus, chances are it won’t resolve on it its own. If that doesn’t motivate you to see your dentist about your gums, we don’t know what will!
Contact our dentist in Armadale about your gums today!
So there you have it, the four most common symptoms of unhealthy gums.
If you notice any of these signs taking hold in your mouth, don’t wait. Visit a dental health professional like Dental Care Group, ASAP.
Our team cares about your oral health… and that includes your gums!
We’re dedicated to providing you with specialised and complete dental treatments for the whole family, providing a full range of general, cosmetic, restorative, and emergency treatments.
Book an appointment online with us today, or call our dentist in Armadale on (03) 9509 1500 for effective gum treatments.
