If you've been diagnosed with gum disease, you need to take it seriously. Without proper treatment, gum disease will continue to spread until it destroys your gums, your teeth, and your jaw bone. Not only that, but it will also destroy your health. Because of that, it's crucial that you follow your dentists orders and have the proper treatment. Here are four things you might not know about gum disease.

Brushing and Flossing Doesn't Get Rid of the Bacteria

When you have gum disease, you begin to develop pockets around the base of your teeth. Those pockets are directly around the roots, which is why the disease causes so much damage to your teeth. As the disease progresses, the pockets get deeper, and fill with a pus-like bacteria. Unfortunately, brushing and flossing won't get rid of the bacteria. The only way to get rid of the bacteria is to have your dentist conduct a deep cleaning. However, it's important to note that if you don't continue with proper dental hygiene, the pus-like bacteria could return and do further damage to your teeth.

You Can Spread the Bacteria That Causes Gum Disease

You might not know this, but the bacteria that's present with gum disease is part of a larger infection. Once the bacteria is in your mouth, it causes an inflammatory reaction, which results in a chain reaction of events that leads to the development of gum disease. Because the bacteria is part of an infection, it can be passed to other people, including your family members. To protect your family, you should seek proper dental care for your gum disease, and you should also avoid sharing toothbrushes. Also, if you have young children, avoid letting them share your eating utensils.

Proper Dental Hygiene Doesn't Always Prevent Gum Disease

If you practice proper dental hygiene, and you still developed gum disease, you should know that proper dental hygiene doesn't always prevent gum disease. That's why it's so important that you see your dentist at least twice a year. During your semi-annual checkups, your dentist can identify those tell-tale signs of gum disease, and begin treatment earlier. The early treatment can help prevent the more serious complications such as tooth and bone loss.

The Bacteria from Gum Disease Can Get Into Your Blood Stream

If you're suffering from gum disease, and you're not following through with the proper treatment plan, you should know that the bacteria that's hiding below the gum line could be finding its way into your blood stream, where it could make you very sick. Don't take your health for granted. Schedule an appointment with a dentist, like Kenneth Schweizer DDS PA, so that you can get control of your gum disease.