A smile is the biggest accessory that you can flaunt. Your 32 pearls make your smile beautiful. Healthy gums, healthy teeth and fresh breath are the main elements that are responsible for good oral health. Even one element getting affected by cavities or any other dental disease has the potential to mar the beauty of your smile. Gum diseases are also known as periodontal diseases. The term "periodontal" means around the teeth. In periodontal diseases, bacterial growth around teeth and gums destroys them. Plaque is majorly responsible for all the gum diseases that we suffer from. When it gathers to extreme levels, it hardens and become tartar thus causing discomfort in the mouth by way of tooth and gum diseases.

What is Gingivitis?

Gingivitis is the initial stage of gum disease. If left untreated then it becomes periodontal disease. When gum tissues lose the strength to protect the gums any further from a disease or decay, it ultimately leads to gingivitis. The sulcus, which is a gap between teeth and gums, is the first area that is targeted by gingivitis that then leads to teeth and gums starting to loosen up.

What are the different types of gum diseases?

A type of gum disease is influenced by severity of the disease. Following are the different types of periodontal diseases that can affect the health of your teeth:

1. Gingivitis-

It is the mild inflammation of the gums. It is the earliest stage of gum disease caused by plaque formation on the gum line. If the plaque is not removed on the daily basis, it produces toxins that cause gingivitis. Bleeding can be noticed while brushing. If treated on time it can be reversed because bone and connective tissues holding the teeth are not affected yet.

2. Periodontal diseases-

In this case, supporting bone and connective tissues holding your teeth are damaged beyond repair. A pocket begins to form below the gum line in which food and plaque gets collected. Dental intervention and care at home can help prevent any further damage.

3. Advanced periodontal diseases-

This is the most severe stage of gum disease. Here bones and fibers are totally damaged which causes your teeth to loosen up or shift from their original place. If the problem persists it might require removing the teeth as well to get rid of the pain.

Causes of gum diseases:

So many factors give birth to gum diseases. Following are the most prominent ones:

1. Dental plaque-

The bacteria in plaque is responsible for gum diseases. Plaque starts to form soon after you brush your teeth. In order to kill the bacteria, our immune system produces substances that damage the gums. This is the reason behind gum swelling, bleeding gum and tender gums and is also considered to be the first sign of gingivitis.

2. Improper oral care-

Lack oral care like improper brushing, not brushing teeth twice a day and not using an effective toothpaste etc., give rise to gum diseases.

3. Skipping visit to the dentist-

Not visiting your dentist can put your teeth in a lot of trouble. Regular check-ups can save you a lot of suffering and help keep your teeth and gums clean and healthy.

4. Diabetes-

When diabetes strikes, it can affect any body part. If you are suffering from gum disease it could be due to diabetes.

5. Smoking –

Smoking puts you at higher risk of gum diseases. Smokers are bound to collect more amount of tartar on their teeth compared to non-smokers.

6. Misaligned teeth or braces-

Any hindrance that makes difficult to brush or floss your teeth boosts up tartar formation. More the tartar you have on your teeth; more you are prone to having gum diseases.

7. Grinding of teeth-

The habit of grinding your teeth is not good. It is not like you will develop periodontal diseases because of this habit. But if your gums are already inflamed, then the inflammation can become severe because of this habit.

8. Stress-

Stress messes up the immunity of your body and it becomes hard for the body to fight infections when you are stressed.

9. Hormonal fluctuations-

When your hormones are fluctuating, it takes a toll on your mouth. Change takes place in your mouth. Puberty, pregnancy and menopause increase the risk of periodontal diseases.

10. Heredity-

Gum diseases can also be inherited and passed on from one generation to another.

Gum Disease Prevention

Gum disease prevention can be difficult, but it is not impossible. Gum diseases are very painful and not to be underestimated. With proper oral care and a bit of extra effort, you easily save yourself the pain and trouble of tooth decay. Just follow the tips below to enable gum disease prevention and flash that million dollar smile of yours:

1. Brushing properly-

It diminishes the effects of plaque on your teeth. Plaque that does not get clean sticks up to your teeth until it becomes tartar. Always use herbal toothpaste like Dabur Meswak - Herbal Toothpaste to brush your mouth at least twice a day. The presence of pure extracts of Miswak plant makes it a potent yet effective remedy for any dental problem while keeping bad breath at bay.

2. Choose effective toothpaste-

Effective toothpaste is the key for maintaining good oral health. To avoid germ build-up and maintain oral hygiene regularly use Dabur Red Paste - Ayurvedic Toothpaste. Packed with the goodness of 13 Avuryedic ingredients like laung, pudina & tomar, it will keep your gums and teeth healthy while fighting any signs of plaque, gingivitis, tartar, germs and stains.

3. Use alcohol-free mouthwash-

Alcohol acts as a preservative in mouthwash, therefore, alcohol-free mouthwash is a safer option.

4. Visiting your dentist-

For gum disease prevention, it advised to see your dentist every 6 months. If there is any gum disease, he can diagnose it and start the treatment. To protect your gums, oral hygiene plays an important role. It repairs the damage before it actually happens. But despite trying these remedies, if the problems of gum swelling, gum pain, receding gums bleeding gums and gum infection still persists, do get in touch with your dentist. For more tips and gum disease cures, keep following our dental blog. Maintain proper oral hygiene and choose the right toothpaste to keep all dental problems away & ensure proper dental care.