Maintaining good dental hygiene is very crucial for your teeth and gums. Skipping brushing and flossing can lead to plaque accumulation in your mouth, which, if left untreated, leads to the formation of tartar. This can result in tooth decay, cavities, and gum disease.
To ensure your gums and teeth stay healthy throughout your life, it is very important to know and avoid the risk factors that could potentially harm them. If you have red, swollen, or bleeding gums, visit dental practice in Hailey for a checkup today. Read this blog to learn more about the factors that can damage the health of your gums and teeth.
Top five risk factors for gum disease.
- Poor oral hygiene.
Poor oral hygiene, like skipping brushing and flossing, may cause various gum and teeth diseases. When plaque is not cleared from your mouth, it keeps accumulating and gets converted into tartar. Poor oral hygiene may lead to gingivitis, which causes swollen gums and bad breath. Therefore, it is very important to maintain good oral hygiene and brush and floss your teeth daily.
- Smoking and tobacco use.
Eating or chewing tobacco and smoking can significantly increase the risk of gum disease and oral cancer. There are a lot of harmful chemicals present in tobacco that make your immune system weak and reduce its ability to fight infection. As a result, your mouth becomes more prone to bacterial infection. Smokers have a higher chance of developing periodontal disease as compared to non-smokers.
- High sugar intake.
Craving for something sweet after dinner is very common. However, when this becomes a habit, it can affect your oral health greatly. Bacteria love to feed on sugar. Consuming foods with high sugar intake regularly makes your mouth a breeding place for bacteria and microbes.
Also, taking an irregular diet or a diet low in protein and nutrients keeps your gums and teeth deprived of the essential elements, increasing the risk of gum disease and tooth decay. It is highly recommended that you take a balanced diet and limit your sugar intake as much as possible.
- Age.
Age is a very significant risk factor in developing gum disease. The possibility of developing gum disease almost doubles when you age 35-60 years. It is often seen that people who have poor oral hygiene or who did not follow preventive care at an early age, it costs them as they grow older.
Old people often experience dry mouth due to various health factors, which may contribute to gum disease. Also, older people use certain medications, which can again increase the risk of gum disease.
Your gums are as important as your teeth, if not more. Schedule a dental appointment today!
