Your teeth rely on healthy gums to serve as connective tissue to keep the teeth in a secure position within the mouth. If you contract gum disease, the resulting degeneration of this tissue from the infection can cause serious problems for your smile, including tooth loss.
What many people do not realize is that the well-being of the teeth can affect periodontal health too. Certain dental issues can increase your risk of gum disease and other issues within the gums. A comprehensive approach to oral healthcare is therefore crucial to maintaining a beautiful and functional smile.
Feel more inspired to protect your gums and keep your teeth healthy when you know more about the connection between these two elements of your smile. Read on to discover three ways that the health of your teeth can impact your gums.
Crooked Teeth Heighten Risk of Gum Disease
Do you have teeth that overlap one another? Crooked teeth might make you feel self-conscious about the way your smile appears. But dental misalignment poses a risk to your oral health too, including your gums.
A straight smile will allow your toothbrush to access the entire surface of your teeth and your floss to slip between the teeth with ease. Crooked teeth can mean your oral hygiene tools cannot properly clean your smile. This will leave plaque and other harmful residues on your teeth.
Lingering plaque will breed bacteria that will then travel to the gums. Then you will face a high risk of contracting gum disease. If you seek teeth-straightening treatment from your dentist or orthodontist, you can align your smile, fix bite problems, and improve your ability to keep your teeth clean. In turn, you can prevent gum disease, keeping your gums in good shape.
Replace Missing Teeth to Protect the Gums
Gum disease is a leading cause of tooth loss, but you have missing teeth, the extra space in your smile can put you in danger of gum disease too. Gaps between remaining teeth can affect your smile’s appearance, but you lose the structure from teeth below the gumline and your visibility as well.
When you lose a tooth and its root that reaches the jaw, the bone there can start to deteriorate. This can lead to shrinkage in the jaw. The loss of structure can heighten your chances of oral infections like gum disease.
To avoid this problem, seek prompt tooth replacement from your dentist or periodontist if you lose one or more teeth. Replace teeth below the gumline for comprehensive dental restoration with implant dentistry.
Proper Dental Care Maintains Periodontal Health
If you want to retain the healthy structure of your gum tissue, you should prevent gum disease by maintain good oral habits. This will mean practicing proper oral hygiene at home. Brush your teeth twice a day and floss on a daily basis.
Rinsing with an antibacterial mouthwash can balance oral bacteria to further reduce your risk of gum disease. Learn more about preventive care for your gums by calling your periodontist.