Healthy Gums – What Do They Look Like?

The easy answer is that healthy gums are pink and firm. To keep your gums healthy, brushing twice a day and flossing daily are the keys. “Healthy gums are easy to spot, so are unhealthy ones,” says Dr. Denine Rice from her Riverside Periodontal Practice.

Look for the following:

·      Redness

·      Swelling

·      Tenderness

·      Recession of the gum tissue

·      Bleeding after brushing or flossing

·      Loose or shifting teeth

·      Bad breath

·      A bad taste in the mouth

·      A bite that has changed

“When your gums are infected you will see one or all of the above signs,” adds Dr.Rice. “And that means it’s time to see your dentist. Unhealthy gum tissue treated in the early stages of disease is easily corrected before too much damage is done.” Untreated, though, gum disease can lead to bone loss, tooth loss and may contribute to other systemic diseases such as diabetes, respiratory problems and low birth weight babies.

“Your mouth is the window to your overall health, don’t ignore the signs,” Dr. Rice says.