February Is Gum Disease Awareness Month
February is all about the gums!
In addition to February being National Children’s Dental Health Month, National Weddings Month, Pet Dental Health Month, National Heart Month, National Embroidery Month…and a few dozen or so more commemorative causes.
Let us not forget about Valentine’s Day either, it’s no wonder why dentists across the world love the month of February.
Gum Disease Awareness Month is a national and global effort to raise public awareness of gum disease.
The program was launched in 2012 by the Institute for Advanced Laser Dentistry, a non-profit educational and research center dedicated to providing evidence-based clinical training in advanced laser dentistry therapies.
Their goal is to continually raise awareness of the prevalence of gum disease and the consequences of untreated disease while encouraging patients to take an active role in better oral health through prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
Why A Month for Gum Disease?
Gum disease, also called periodontal disease, is an infection of the tissues and bone that support your teeth.
85% of US adults suffer from some degree of gum disease, making it one of the most common diseases in America – more common than cancer, diabetes, arthritis, or heart disease.
Yet, only 60% of those infected know they have gum disease. Worse yet, only 3% of adults with moderate to severe levels of gum disease will accept treatment.
Are those good enough reasons?
What Causes Gum Disease?
The number one cause of gum disease is poor dental hygiene.
When you neglect your teeth & gums – by not brushing daily for #2min2x a day or flossing – plaque will build up along the gum line, which is the first stage of gum disease, Gingivitis.
If you further neglect gingivitis this systemic infection will progress into periodontitis, and if still not treated, full-blown advanced periodontitis.
And it’s not just about taking care of your gums or oral health, it’s about taking care of your overall health!
Gum disease has been found to have systemic connections to the following serious health issues:
- Stroke
- Heart Disease
- Osteoporosis
- Alzheimer’s & Dementia
- Cancer
- Respiratory Disease
- Infertility
- Diabetes
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
How Can You Prevent Gum Disease?
As these public service announcements (in English, French & Spanish) say, gum disease is treatable in every single patient.
The key to not developing gum disease is prevention.
That means brushing your teeth for two minutes, twice a day, flossing every day, and visiting your dentist every six months.
Simple, right?
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