{"id":217,"date":"2019-09-04T15:33:20","date_gmt":"2019-09-04T15:33:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.schumacherdental.com\/blog\/?p=217"},"modified":"2019-09-30T15:37:14","modified_gmt":"2019-09-30T15:37:14","slug":"improve-your-oral-health-5-ways-to-take-care-of-your-gums-in-september","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.schumacherdental.com\/blog\/improve-your-oral-health-5-ways-to-take-care-of-your-gums-in-september\/","title":{"rendered":"Improve Your Oral Health: 5 Ways to Take Care of Your Gums in September"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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If you think the soft tissues of your mouth cannot be\naffected by decay or disease, you\u2019re unfortunately wrong. The teeth aren\u2019t the\nonly parts of your smile that deserve to be healthy. Your gums are a vital\naspect of your oral cavity and can easily be negatively impacted by injuries or\ndecay caused by poor oral hygiene. Since September is National Gum\nCare Month<\/a>, allow your dentist to explain the importance of your gums and ways\nyou can keep them healthy and disease-free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Why Are the Gums Important?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are two major parts to teeth: the crown and the root.\nWhile the crown is the visible portion that lives above the gum line, the root\nlives down below, anchoring your teeth to the jawbone and surrounding tissues. This\nhighly sensitive area is protected by your gums, which are the soft, pale\ntissues that line your mouth. When this area becomes infected or inflamed, it\ncan result in problems for your teeth, bone, and overall health. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Gum Disease?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Gum disease occurs in stages and occurs when plaque and\ntartar begin to build around the gum line. The early stage is known as gingivitis.\nThis is when your gums become red, puffy, and may even bleed slightly. If\ncaught and addressed during this stage with thorough dental cleanings and good\nat-home oral hygiene habits, you and your dentist can actually reverse the symptoms\nand restore your gum health. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Should gingivitis escalate to periodontitis, your gums will\nbleed, be tender and inflamed, and you might even notice small pimple-like\nbumps developing on your gums and teeth that look longer because of a receding\ngum line. The only way to prevent tooth and bone loss, which occurs in advanced\nperiodontitis, is to perform a deep cleaning, or scaling and root planing\nprocedure, which effectively removes all plaque and tartar from above and below\nthe gum line as well as smooths out the tooth root and encourages it to\nreattach to your gums. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Can it Affect My Overall Health?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This extremely common dental problem doesn\u2019t only affect\nyour oral health. In fact, the inflammation and infection associated with gum\ndisease can actually enter your bloodstream and lead to serious health problems,\nsuch as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n