Most people recognize the main tenets of keeping their teeth healthy. For instance, preventing issues like tooth decay and tooth loss requires keeping harmful oral bacteria bay. That requires brushing your teeth at least twice a day, flossing at least once a day, and attending dental checkups and cleanings as often as the dentist recommends. However, not everyone recognizes the importance of healthy gums to the health and integrity of their teeth and the rest of their smiles. Today, we examine why patients in Encinitas/San Diego need healthy gums to maintain their natural smiles for life, and what they can do if their periodontal health is threatened by gum disease.

The Importance of Your Gums

The soft, pink tissues that cover the bottom portions (roots) of your teeth serve several purposes, many of which aren’t immediately obvious. For instance, your gum line’s impact on the appearance of your smile may be noticeable, especially if you have a gummy smile (excessive gum tissues covering one or more of your teeth). However, the fact that your gums are the main barrier between your teeth roots and harmful oral bacteria isn’t as obvious. In addition to helping your jawbone keep your teeth and their roots sturdy, your gums also stop bacteria from clinging to your teeth roots, which aren’t protected by a resilient layer of enamel like their crowns are.

Why Gum Disease Leads to Tooth Loss

Gum disease is the condition that results from oral bacteria compromising your gums and working their way underneath them, increasingly setting on your teeth roots. These microbes can cause irritation and inflammation that damage and destroy your gums, eventually eroding the jawbone underneath them, as well. Before long, the damage can leave one or more of your teeth without adequate periodontal and jawbone support, causing them to fall out or require extraction before they do. In fact, because many patients don’t seek treatment in time to prevent severe periodontal disease, the condition is the leading cause of adult tooth loss in the United States.

Keep Your Teeth and Gums Consistently Healthy

Healthy teeth rely on healthy periodontal tissues to protect their roots from harmful oral bacteria as well as maintain sturdy support as you bite and chew. For more information, schedule a consultation with Dr. Kania by calling her periodontal office in Encinitas/San Diego, CA, at (760) 642-0711.