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love at first floss: valentine’s day meets gum disease awareness month

love at first floss: valentine’s day meets gum disease awareness month

It's almost Valentine's Day, so naturally, we're talking about love! And by that, we mean love for your gums...because February is also Gum Disease Awareness Month. So along with the chocolates, cards, teddy bears, and romantic dates, we invite you to carve out some time to optimize your oral care routine for a healthy mouth + healthy you. To get you started, we're brushing up on the causes and stages of gum disease, how gum disease is connected to other health concerns, why early detection and prevention are so important, and the special relationship between flossing and gum disease. what is gum disease? Gum disease is a bacterial infection in the gum tissue, which can lead to inflammation, tissue damage, and so much more. You might find gum disease disguised under different names, such as gingivitis, periodontitis, or periodontal disease. Here's a brief look at what these names mean. gingivitis refers to the early, mild stages of gum disease. At this point, you can reverse the issue with diligent oral care and help from your dentist and hygienist. periodontitis (aka periodontal disease) covers the more serious, late stages of gum disease. At this point, your gums can separate from your teeth (leaving pockets for bacteria). You can also experience bone loss. While this stage cannot be reversed, it can be managed with help from your dentist. As you can see, gum disease prevention (and early treatment) are both very important. Here are a few symptoms to look out for as early red flags for gum disease, especially if they're persistent.  red, purple, or swollen gums gum bleeding gum recession tooth sensitivity, especially around your gums pain with chewing changes in your bite alignment loose teeth Now that we've covered what gum disease is, let's dive into some common issues.   what causes gum disease? While there are so many different causes of gum disease, we've outlined a few common ones below. plaque buildup from poor oral hygiene genetics smoking and excessive drinking chronic dry mouth rapid hormonal changes autoimmune disease certain medications crooked or crowded teeth dental work (like fillings, implants, and bridges) stress! The good news is that you can craft a diligent oral care routine for gum disease prevention!   why is gum disease prevention so important? Did you know that gum disease is a warning sign for larger, systematic diseases? Below we've outlined a few common whole-body conditions linked to gum disease. heart disease and stroke: bacteria in your mouth can travel through your bloodstream to your heart's blood vessels, leading to complications. diabetes: gum disease can also disrupt your blood sugar regulation. If you have diabetes (or if you're at risk), you'll want to look out for signs of gum disease. cognitive issues: recent research suggests that gum disease could be linked to dementia and may speed up cognitive decline. It's no surprise that scientists are also linking metabolic issues (aka problems with blood sugar regulation) to dementia too...based on our last bullet point! respiratory infections: the bacteria from gum disease can also travel to your lungs, worsening respiratory issues like COPD, pneumonia, and more. On top of that, people who already have existing respiratory issues might have weakened immune systems that make them more susceptible to gum disease. We know this sounds scary, but it's so important to know, so you can keep a watchful eye on your gum health. If you start to experience sudden bleeding, swelling, or redness, get your gums checked out right away!   the relationship between flossing and gum disease It's true that every step in your oral care routine plays an important role in preventing and treating gum disease. But flossing and gum disease have a unique relationship.  Unlike brushing alone, flossing can clean the tight spaces between your teeth and areas along your gum line. This is why dental professionals recommend flossing once daily! Davids expanding floss is designed to scrub away bacteria and plaque in these pesky places to help you prevent gum disease and other oral health complications Many new flossers often experience gum bleeding, which can sometimes be a false alarm for gum disease. Here's what we mean: when you first start flossing, the impact of the floss on your gums can cause some bleeding. This is because (1) your gums aren't used to it (2) you're pressing too hard or (3) both! If your gums bleed as you go, we know it can be tempting to toss the floss altogether. But we want to remind you bleeding can be a sign that your gums need consistent flossing. So we recommend proceeding with caution. give it a week: continue to floss daily with proper technique for one week. Proper technique includes careful, gentle movements, wrapping the floss around each tooth and gently gliding it up and down. If the bleeding persists... visit your dentist: they can assess you for gum disease and recommend next steps to stop the bleeding and discomfort   your healthy gum + mouth routine for v-day Isn't it a funny coincidence that Valentine's Day falls within Gum Disease Awareness Month? In honor of these two occasions, we outlined an effective oral care routine to keep your gums and teeth feeling healthy and happy. floss once daily with Davids expanding dental floss: now you know flossing and gum disease have a unique relationship, so be sure to keep up with this daily ritual for your gum health! brush twice daily with Davids natural toothpaste: every flavor in our lineup is formulated with ingredients that work together to tame bacteria, scrub your teeth, prevent dry mouth, maintain a healthy mouth pH, and nurture your gum health. scrape your tongue with Davids stainless steel tongue scraper: this removes extra bacteria that love to sit in the pores and grooves of your tongue (and make their way to your gums).  freshen up as needed: don't forget to add in some extra brushing and flossing after your meals. It's Valentine's Day after all! schedule dental appointments: gum disease prevention (and early detection) are crucial. We encourage you to visit your dentist every six months for a deep cleaning and professional assessment. Why not schedule those appointments now? Did you know that every one of our toothpaste boxes contains a secret love message? If you look closely, you'll find "D2MFBAMB" printed on your Davids box. Keep your eyes peeled as we dive into the meaning of this secret message on Valentine's Day! buy now.  
bleeding gums five common myths about bleeding gums, a red flag you should never ignore

five common myths about bleeding gums, a red flag you should never ignore

When it comes to your dental health, it can be tempting to brush off pesky symptoms. But we’re here to remind you that gum bleeding is a red flag (pun intended) you should never ignore. While there are so many causes of bleeding gums, they can often indicate another issue, such as gum disease, stress, nutrient deficiency, and beyond. So for the sake of your oral and overall health, let’s dive into some common myths about bleeding gums, debunking the misinformation and empowering you to take charge of your well-being. After all, early action (and prevention) can make a world of a difference for your oral health, and knowledge is one key ingredient for positive action. myth 1: bleeding gums are normal Bleeding gums might be common, but they aren’t normal (especially when persistent). Be sure to take note of the severity and duration of your gum bleeding. If it’s persistent, you should visit your dentist as soon as possible since it could be a sign of gum disease (nearly half of all US adults over 30 experience gum disease). Early treatment is key when it comes to bleeding gums and gum disease. Your dentist can give you a treatment plan that can allow you to reverse gum disease so it doesn’t progress to advanced stages like periodontitis. Along with gum disease, other common causes of gum bleeding include plaque buildup, hormonal changes, medications, rough brushing/flossing, and more. No matter what the cause, know that gum bleeding calls for a dental checkup. myth 2: you only need to see the dentist if your gums are bleeding Prevention is key in the world of dental health. We don’t recommend waiting until you need the dentist to go to the dentist, as this approach can miss important opportunities to prevent more severe issues down the line. As always, we recommend dental cleanings and checkups every six months to detect early signs of gum disease, assess gum bleeding, and look out for any other oral health issues before they escalate. During routine visits, your hygienist can use techniques and tools you don’t have at home to perform deep cleanings to remove plaque and tartar buildup. Your dentist can assess your gum health and recommend personalized care routines that prevent gum bleeding, sensitivity, and other complications. We recommend visiting your dentist every six months, especially (and more frequently) if you experience persistent gum bleeding. They can assess whether the bleeding is a sign of gum disease, confront the stage, and outline a treatment plan. If your gums are actively bleeding, don’t hesitate to get them checked, as gum disease is linked to so many other conditions like heart disease, diabetes, dementia, rheumatoid arthritis, and other inflammatory diseases. myth 3: you have to brush harder and floss more for bleeding gums It’s a common misconception that brushing and flossing harder can help your bleeding gums. In reality, this can worsen things. Harder brushing does not equal a deeper clean, and it can actually harm your gums, lead to gum recession, and make them more prone to bleeding and gum disease. Instead, we recommend a gentle, thorough approach using a soft bristle toothbrush, effective toothpaste, smooth waxed floss, and proper technique. Hold your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to your gums and clean each tooth with gentle, circular motions. When flossing, glide the floss gently between your teeth and hug each tooth rather than forcing it down. Be sure to brush twice daily and floss (at least) once daily, avoiding excessive force that can harm your gums. With consistency, this intentional approach can help improve your gum health without the risk of injury, gum bleeding, and discomfort. myth 4: only people with poor oral hygiene have bleeding gums While poor oral hygiene can lead to gum bleeding, it’s not the only cause. You can have the best oral care habits and still experience the occasional bleeding gums, and sometimes that feels even more frustrating! As we mentioned earlier in this article, there are so many causes of gum bleeding that aren’t related to your hygiene habits. rapid hormonal changes: like pregnancy, menopause, puberty, and menstruation certain medications: such as birth control pills, antihypertensive medications, asthma medication, blood thinners, aspirin, chemotherapy, antibiotics, and more stress: which can trigger inflammation throughout your body and weaken your immune system, causing gum bleeding, irritation, and infection vitamin deficiencies, specifically vitamins C and K, which play important roles in tissue repair and blood clotting medical conditions: diabetes and autoimmune disorders can also affect your oral health and cause bleeding gums Remember, you can be doing everything right and still experience gum bleeding. If that’s the case, give yourself some grace and schedule an appointment with your dentist and primary care doctor to investigate and address the root cause as soon as possible. myth 5: gum bleeding and gum disease can’t be reversed The great news is that gum bleeding and the early stages of gum disease can be reversed! That’s why it’s so important to visit your dentist and address the issue immediately. With guidance from your dentist, diligent oral care habits, and some great products, you can work to ease your redness, swelling, and bleeding gums.Whether you have bleeding gums or not, developing a holistic dental care routine is crucial for your oral and overall health. At Davids, we’re proud to offer an expanding line of premium oral care products that nurture your long-term health. From natural toothpaste formulas crafted with xylitol and nano-hydroxyapatite to soft-bristled bamboo toothbrushes to innovative expanding dental floss, explore our premium products and give your bleeding gums (or perfectly healthy gums!) the love they deserve. buy now.

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