Recognizing and Treating Gingivitis

Proper dental care can prevent this common gum disease.

Your commitment to how well you care for your teeth and gums has a powerful effect on your overall health. Neglecting your oral health can contribute to many other health problems.These including fatal diseases such as oral cancer. Researchers have found definite connections between gum disease and heart disease. Bacterial pneumonia, stroke, problems in pregnancies an even Alzheimer's.

You cannot be healthy with an unhealthy mouth, any more than you can be healthy with infections in other parts of your body. 

If your gums are irritated and frequently bleed, you may have gum disease, also called periodontal disease. There are two types of gum disease: gingivitis and periodontitis. Gingivitis reflects mild to moderate inflammation of your gums (or gingiva). Without proper dental care, it can progress into a more serious condition, called periodontitis, which can result in tooth loss and destruction of the jaw bone.

There is also evidence that untreated gum disease can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. But by practicing good oral hygiene — brushing and flossing your teeth regularly and getting regular dental checkups and cleanings — you can prevent gingivitis and other more serious oral health problems disease.