{"id":23,"date":"2019-09-25T16:37:53","date_gmt":"2019-09-25T16:37:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sdentalnj.com\/blog\/?p=23"},"modified":"2019-10-01T16:38:15","modified_gmt":"2019-10-01T16:38:15","slug":"september-national-gum-care-month","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sdentalnj.com\/blog\/2019\/09\/25\/september-national-gum-care-month\/","title":{"rendered":"National Gum Care Month: Saving Your Smile Means Protecting More Than Your Teeth"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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When it comes to\noral health, it\u2019s easy to worry about your pearly whites, but what about the\ntissues around them? September is National Gum Care Month; it\u2019s an opportunity for\ndentists to remind their patients that a healthy smile means more than just\nkeeping your teeth cavity free. Get into the spirit of the month by learning\nmore about what can happen if you don\u2019t take care of your gums.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

The Real Role of Your Gums<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Your gums play an important role in protecting your teeth. The\nroots of a tooth are very sensitive; if they become exposed, you could start\nexperiencing a lot of discomfort whenever you eat something that is very hot or\nvery cold. Exposed roots are also at a higher risk of infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For these reasons, it\u2019s important to take care of your gums.\nIf they start to recede, they\u2019ll no longer help safeguard your teeth. And if\nyour gums become infected, they\u2019ll put your oral and overall health at serious\nrisk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dangers of Gum Disease<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, it\u2019s very easy for your gums to become\ninfected before you even realize it. This condition \u2013 gum disease \u2013 starts as gingivitis\nand eventually becomes periodontitis. If it does reach that last stage, your\nteeth could start to loosen and could be lost altogether. Even worse, gum\ndisease has been linked to cardiac problems, diabetes, birth complications,\nrespiratory illnesses and even Alzheimer\u2019s. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You might not notice any symptoms of gum disease until it\u2019s\ntoo late, but here are some possible signs that you need to call your dentist\nfor treatment:<\/p>\n\n\n\n