Understanding gum disease

It is a fact that everybody will suffer from gum disease at some point in their life. The good news, however, is that most people will be able to control it with a few good habits and you can set your mind even more at ease by taking out a dental insurance policy.

Like tooth decay, gum disease is caused by plaque, a film of bacteria that forms on your teeth every day. Some of the bacteria are not harmful but there is a type of bacteria that can get under the gum line and affect the gums, causing inflammation and redness. You may notice slight bleeding when you brush your teeth or even taste blood in your mouth. If you do experience this symptom, see your dentist as soon as possible.

If left untreated, gum disease can result in tooth loss or even worse.

But fortunately this is only in extreme cases - most people follow good oral hygiene rules, such as:

• Brush teeth twice a day, in the morning and in the evening, and include the gum line. Brush gently in circular motions for a couple of minutes and you could remove most of the plaque.
• Going for regular dental check-ups, if not twice a year then at least once in a twelve month period. Your dentist is trained to look for the early signs of gum disease.
• Stopping smoking. Smoke introduces new bacteria into the mouth, increasing the amount of bad bacteria that needs to be brushed away.

Stick to these simple rules and you could successfully slow down the rate of gum disease and lower the risk of tooth loss.