Keep gums healthy. That’s the message here. Your gums are key to your overall body health.

Poor gum health – gum disease – affects nearly one in 10 adults by the age of 64. Surprisingly, gum disease can affect your emotional health, nutritional life, lungs, and even your heart.

Gum disease, medically known as periodontitis, is a soft tissue and bone-destroying infection within your gums from plaque build-up.

If you are susceptible to gum disease, your body over-reacts to the plaque/bacteria around the gums and causes inflammation that doesn’t resolve completely. It then slowly destroys the bone that supports your teeth. Your teeth become mobile and, failing to keep gums healthy with professional care and regular oral health maintenance, they will eventually fall out.

A 5-minute dental routine, twice a day, is all it takes to substantially decrease your risk of developing these advanced health issues. This easy option to keep gums healthy involves simply brushing your teeth twice a day, morning and night, and flossing every day.

If you do not already practise a daily routine to keep gums healthy, here are a few reasons you should:

Gum disease can result in a wide range of medical complications. Some studies point to it being linked to problems during pregnancy, dementia, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Gum disease can also contribute to your chances of having a stroke. In some cases, advanced gum inflammation can affect the bloodstream and is believed to slowly damage blood vessels in the heart and brain over an extended period of time.

Your emotional health

As we say at Trusted Dental, It all starts with a smile.

Your smile is your calling card to the world. It is the first impression you create, and being able to smile confidently when face to face with someone is a wonderful feeling.

One of the most commonly reported experiences after tooth extraction or loss is social embarrassment. This can affect the way you feel about yourself and diminish your confidence — not to mention any bad breath that could come alone with it — making you question how others perceive you.

Your nutritional life

We are all aware that a balanced nutritional diet, full of crisp fruit and vegetables, is a major contributor to leading a healthy life.

The truth is, if gum disease plays a part, resulting in wobbly teeth, these foods become harder to eat as the function of your teeth is compromised. Poor nutrition can then deprive your body of essential vitamins, causing fatigue, dizziness, poor gut health, headaches and more.

Your lung health

Periodontitis can compromise your lung health. It can increase the risk of respiratory infections such as pneumonia. This can occur from inhaling bacteria into the respiratory tract.

Research suggests that people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) but keep healthy gums can enhance their lung health.

Your heart health

Gum disease causes inflammation in the gums. Advanced periodontal disease can also increase inflammation levels throughout the entire body. Some studies suggest this increases the risk of stroke and heart disease, both being an inflammatory disease themselves.

So how do we avoid this? Here are the basics:

1. Brush your teeth twice daily with fluoride toothpaste. Make sure to brush along the gum line in addition to your teeth.

2. Replace worn-out toothbrushes at least every 3 to 4 months because they can injure your gums.

3. Floss between teeth or use an inter-dental cleaner once a day.

4. Rinse with an antiseptic mouthwash at least once a day.

5. See your dentist for check-ups and cleanings two or more times a year. If gums are bleeding, don’t wait. See your dentist right away. If you have periodontal disease, the dentist or dental assistant can use deep-cleaning measures or apply antibiotics. If disease is advanced, surgery can clean badly diseased gum pockets.

6. Keep your dentist up to date about any changes in your overall health, especially if you are pregnant or entering menopause, or have a disease such as diabetes. In these cases, pay special care to your dental health. You may be more susceptible to gingivitis.

7. Limit sugary snacks and drinks.

8. Eat a balanced diet. A recent study in men aged 65 and older, showed that eating a diet rich in high-fibre fruit provided a special benefit: it appeared to slow the progression of periodontal disease.

9. If you’re a smoker, do everything possible to quit. People who smoke are more likely to have a buildup of plaque and tartar. In fact, smokers may be up to four times more likely to develop advanced periodontal disease than nonsmokers.