No one wants to see blood in the sink after they’ve brushed their teeth and rinsed their mouth. Even if they are not too worried about it, most Canadians know it’s not a good sign.
According to a new survey commissioned by Colgate-Palmolive, 65 per cent of Canadians have seen blood in the sink after brushing, yet more than half choose to ignore it or only take minimal action. The same survey found that 36 per cent of Canadians do not believe that bleeding gums is an issue – yet in actuality, bleeding gums may be a sign of early gum disease.
“Gum disease is usually what we call a silent disease, so very rarely will a patient feel pain,” said Dr. Thomas Nguyen, periodontist and the associate director of the division of Periodontics at the McGill Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences. “When they start to feel pain or their teeth are being mobile, then it’s already been going on for many years.”
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You may have heard the importance of good oral hygiene to prevent gum disease – but what is gum disease?
Otherwise known as periodontal disease, gum disease is caused by a build-up of plaque from leftover food bacteria on the teeth that can lead to inflammation and infection in the gums. Left untreated, this silent disease can turn into frequent bad breath, loose teeth, loss of teeth, pain, receding gums and even changes to your facial structure as well as difficulty speaking. Depending on the severity, the treatment of gum disease may involve deep cleaning under the gums, dental surgeries, and medications.
Oral health affects overall health
Poor oral health has been shown to affect overall health. “The mouth and body relationship is very clear because the mouth is part of the body; so, there’s a lot of things that there’s a correlation between periodontal disease and other systemic diseases,” said Dr. Nguyen. When inflammation exists in the mouth, it creates stress on the immune system, which can increase the risk of developing other health conditions and their severity.
Most evidenced is the link between periodontal disease and the increased risk for diabetes, and vice versa. In an April 2023 study, researchers found that individuals with diabetes who were treated for periodontal disease, saw their diabetes-related healthcare costs reduced by 12 to 14 per cent.
In a 2020 report, researchers found that there was a significant link between gum disease and heart attack, stroke and other cardiovascular conditions. Further, it has been shown that gum disease has a link to Alzheimer’s disease; some studies found that the presence of gum disease was tied to the rate of cognitive decline or dementia risk.
Know the risk factors and be proactive
The best way to treat gum disease is to prevent it, said Dr. Nguyen. He recommended prioritizing oral hygiene by brushing twice a day with a very soft toothbrush and using antibacterial toothpaste, flossing once a day and seeing the dentist twice a year for a check-up and cleaning.
If you do notice some bleeding after brushing or flossing, don’t fret – but be proactive. If you can control the inflammation for two weeks, then early gum disease is reversible, said Dr. Nguyen. Use a specialty toothpaste like Colgate PerioGardSF, which significantly reduces gum bleeding and inflammation.
“The toothpaste comes in two formats – one is only for gum care and another one, gum care and sensitivity,” said Salma Kaddouri, Integrated Marketing Lead Canada, Oral Care at Colgate-Palmolive. “We have also come up with a toothbrush, Colgate PerioGard Gum Protection, designed specifically for gum care and also for sensitive and irritated gums.”
When it comes to oral health, the key is to be proactive to prevent health issues down the road.
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Think you may have early gum disease? Take the quiz to find out.
