Red gums can be signs of something more serious
Have you looked at your teeth and gums in the mirror recently? The natural color of the gums varies from person to person but it generally is coral pink. Some races may have a deeper color while some may have it different because of certain conditions. These conditions include – eating certain foods with colorings, smoking (which turns gums to a grayish color) and certain medications. On the other hand, chronic red gums that don’t seem to go away could mean something else such as gum diseases.
Redness on the gums due to gum diseases is because of the reduced vascularization, therefore changing the gums into a darker red color. It also happens to pregnant women due to certain metabolic and endocrine disturbances / hormonal changes – which generally makes them prone to gum diseases. But generally, red gums and gum diseases are related to the lack of dental health care.
When food debris is left on the teeth and gums, bacteria form over them in the form of a small thin sticky substance called plaque. When plaque isn’t removed through oral care, it will eventually harden into tartar – which is something that can’t be removed by regular means. Dentists can however clean tartar but it would be troublesome to keep on making cleaning appointments for that so it would be best to establish a dental care routine to manage tartar.
When bacterial infection spreads to the gums, they turn red which is already a form of gingivitis – the initial stages of gum disease. The symptoms are often accompanied by bleeding, inflamed and swollen gums; and sometimes, chronic bad breath. Usually the symptoms during this time are mild and chances are, unless a diagnosis is done, patients will not know they have it. For that matter, it is important to check for gum disease symptoms to ensure your gums are healthy.
In the event that gingivitis is not cured, it has a chance to develop into a more serious disease – periodontitis is the severe version of gingivitis and is when the symptoms worsen and when gum diseases pose a greater threat to your overall health. When still left untreated, the gums may recede and may eventually lead to tooth loss; during this stage, it is pretty much irreversible. If you find out that you have gum diseases, it is recommended to immediately find a way to cure it. There are several natural remedies for red gums or you may opt to visit your dentist for professional help.
