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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 gum toothpaste bleeding gums: a signal from your smile about your overall health

bleeding gums: a signal from your smile about your overall health

Did you know your gums might be trying to tell you something? While it’s easy to brush off bleeding gums as a minor inconvenience, they’re often a sign of something deeper. From early indicators of gum disease to clues about your overall health, your gums play a crucial role in keeping you well and signaling issues that need your attention. Let’s take a closer look at what causes bleeding gums, why they’re worth paying attention to, and how you can prevent them for a healthy mouth + healthy you. what causes bleeding gums? There are so many different causes of gum bleeding, so let’s dive into a few common ones. poor oral hygiene habits: are you flossing daily, brushing twice daily, and tongue scraping? Are you careful not to press too hard when you’re brushing and flossing? Are you eating a mouth-friendly diet that’s full of nutrient-dense whole foods and limited in sugary, acidic, and starchy items? plaque and tartar: tartar is the hardened version of plaque. If your teeth feel scratchy, it’s likely that you already have some tartar buildup. Once tartar forms, it can only be removed by your dental hygienist using special tools, so be sure to schedule an appointment! hormonal changes: whether it’s puberty, pregnancy, menopause, menstruation or aging, rapid hormonal changes can cause bleeding gums. stress: when you’re stressed, inflammation increases and your immune system becomes weakened. This can lead to gum bleeding, irritation, and other systemic complications. medications: common medications such as aspirin, antibiotics, and birth control pills can cause gum bleeding too. vitamin deficiencies: vitamins C and K help keep your soft tissues healthy and prevent bleeding, so be sure your body gets enough of these. underlying conditions: diabetes, autoimmune disease, and so many more conditions are linked with gum bleeding. We’ll get into these in the next few sections. Now that you know some causes, let’s explore why you should always immediately address and treat your bleeding gums. why you should never ignore bleeding gums While it might be common, gum bleeding is a red flag you should never ignore. It’s often an early warning sign for gum disease (gingivitis or periodontitis), and early detection/prevention is so important for gum disease. It’s the kind of condition that you want to reverse in its early stages because it becomes much harder to tame once it’s progressed. Late-stage gum disease can cause your gums to “detach” from your teeth, which can lead to serious infections, tissue deterioration, and tooth loss. Gum bleeding is also linked with other systemic health (which we’ll dive into next). The good news is that when you catch gum bleeding at its early stages, you can do a lot to reverse it and prevent gum disease and larger systemic issues. If you experience persistent gum bleeding, book an appointment with your dentist right away. bleeding gums and your overall health Gum health plays a central role in your holistic health, and bleeding gums can be a warning sign for deeper issues and conditions. Because bleeding gums are closely linked with inflammation and bacteria, they can cause/impact other issues downstream. diabetes: gum disease and diabetes create a vicious cycle with one another. Diabetes increases your susceptibility to gum disease and bleeding gums, and gum disease can disrupt blood sugar regulation. If you’re insulin-resistant, prediabetic, or diabetic, keep a sharp eye on your gum health. heart disease: the inflammation/bacteria from bleeding gums and gum disease can enter your bloodstream, which can lead to plaque buildup in your arteries. respiratory health: bacteria from gum infections can make its way into your lungs, leading to respiratory problems. pregnancy complications: due to rapid hormonal changes, gum bleeding is common during pregnancy. However, research flags gum disease as a potential risk for premature birth. cognitive health: while more research is needed, recent studies have linked gum disease (often signaled by bleeding gums) with cognitive decline and dementia. The good news is that treating and solving your gum bleeding can also relieve larger issues, so we’ve included tips on how to prevent bleeding gums in the future. how to prevent bleeding gums As we mentioned, gum bleeding can be an early sign of gum disease, making it the perfect opportunity to stop gum disease in its tracks. Here are a few tips to stop/prevent gum disease for a healthy mouth + healthy you. hone your oral care habits: you already know the drill here! Brush twice daily, floss daily, tongue scrape, hydrate, and eat a month-friendly diet. Use proper brushing and flossing techniques to ensure you’re not pressing too hard or putting extra stress on your gums. Our hydroxyapatite toothpaste will give your enamel an extra dose of minerals for an extra line of defense against harmful bacteria and plaque. use a toothpaste for bleeding gums: a bleeding gum toothpaste is specially formulated with ingredients to soothe inflammation, reduce plaque, fight bacteria, and prevent gum bleeding. visit your dentist on the dot: make an appointment every six months even if you’re feeling totally healthy! Maintenance and prevention are key when it comes to gum disease, gum bleeding, and beyond. manage your stress: whether that looks like meditating, walking outside, strength training, singing, laying in a patch of grass, or something totally different, be sure you’re doing something every day to regulate your nervous system to prevent stress and inflammation. avoid alcohol and tobacco: using these substances is a sure way to harm your oral and overall health, so avoid (or at least reduce) them as much as possible. Whether you already have bleeding gums or you’re just looking to maintain your oral health, our essentials bundle has some incredible, effective products to get started on your holistic oral care routine. buy now.

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