Why Gum Health Matters Week #2 of My PerioBalance Challenge

Why does gum health matter?  There are a lot of reasons, but did you know gum health is important to your overall health?  Well, it is and PerioBalance is a great tool to include in your preventative oral hygiene routine.  Granted I have only been using it for a bit of two weeks, but I can already tell a difference.  I’ve also been really religious about measuring the Ph balance of my saliva but I’ll save that for a future post.

Have you ever felt like you had sweaters on your teeth or gums?  I have.  I can say, however, that since I started the challenge I have had less film on my teeth and my gums are no longer bleeding (but I do attribute some of that to the daily flossing I have been doing on a religious basis lately).  When I was pregnant my gums bled every day and I had a lot of problems.  Eventually my gum line started decreasing and I started early stages of gingivitis.  I began to fear losing all my teeth and that is when I started taking my oral hygiene much more seriously.  PerioBalance has been a nice addition to my routine.

Our awesome sponsor shared some information with us that I want to pass along:

What is gum disease?

Gum disease is an infection of the tissues and bones around your teeth, and is also called periodontal disease.

• Gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease and is a mild disease that affects only the gums. It causes red, swollen gums that bleed easily during brushing, but may not cause pain.
• Periodontitis is the second stage of gum disease as the infection worsens and spreads below the gums to damage tissues and bone that support your teeth. During this stage, gums pull away or shrink back from the teeth, leaving deep pockets where bacteria can grow and cause damage. Other symptoms could include bad breath and loose teeth.

Gum health and heart disease

Consistent flossing and regular dentist visits may help prevent heart disease. By removing plaque and preventing periodontal disease, you are helping decrease certain markers that are associated with coronary artery disease and cardiac risk.

Gum health and diabetes

People with diabetes are at an increased risk for gum disease, especially those with poor blood glucose control. Conversely, gum disease may potentially affect blood glucose control, which could lead to the progression of diabetic conditions. So, if you have diabetes, not taking proper care of your teeth and gums may increase your chances of diabetes complications.

Gum health and osteoporosis

Since osteoporosis is a disease that affects bones, it can also affect your teeth. The risk of tooth loss is three times greater for women with osteoporosis.

Gum health and pregnancy

During a pregnancy, it’s important not to neglect your gum health, for your own benefit and that of your baby. Gingivitis is especially common during the second to eighth months of pregnancy. In the meantime, your baby’s teeth begin to develop between the third and sixth month of pregnancy, so it’s important to maintain a nutritious diet to nourish this development.

Next week I will SHOW you some differences PerioBalance has started to make in my oral health and if you missed the post about the kick off of our challenge you can find it here: Week 1 PerioBalance.  Stay tuned!