{"id":1075,"date":"2020-02-02T19:36:24","date_gmt":"2020-02-02T19:36:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.smilespringfield.com\/blog\/?p=1075"},"modified":"2025-06-25T03:05:33","modified_gmt":"2025-06-25T03:05:33","slug":"gum-disease-treatment-in-springfield-awareness-month","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.smilespringfield.com\/blog\/2020\/02\/02\/gum-disease-treatment-in-springfield-awareness-month\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Things to Do During National Gum Disease Awareness Month"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-1076\" src=\"https:\/\/www.smilespringfield.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/AdobeStock_107487374__1566924294_57276-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"man using electric toothbrush\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.smilespringfield.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/AdobeStock_107487374__1566924294_57276-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.smilespringfield.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/AdobeStock_107487374__1566924294_57276-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.smilespringfield.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/AdobeStock_107487374__1566924294_57276.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>When you think of February, you probably think of the color red. After all, it\u2019s the color of love and Valentine\u2019s Day\u2026 and gum disease? That\u2019s right, February is also National Gum Disease Awareness Month. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.smilespringfield.com\/periodontal-therapy.html\">Gum disease<\/a> is estimated to affect more than half of the adult population of the United States at some point in their lives. So, let\u2019s talk about a few things you can do to keep from needing gum disease treatment in Springfield.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<h2>1. Learn the Warning Signs<\/h2>\n<p>Unfortunately, gum disease usually doesn\u2019t display very many prominent symptoms in the early days. Still, report any of the following signs to your dentist right away:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Bleeding gums in Springfield when brushing and flossing<\/li>\n<li>Red, swollen, puffy, or tender gums<\/li>\n<li>Persistent bad breath that doesn\u2019t respond to your oral hygiene routine<\/li>\n<li>A constant unpleasant taste in your mouth<\/li>\n<li>Gums that pull away from your teeth, making your teeth appear \u201clonger\u201d<\/li>\n<li>Teeth that feel loose<\/li>\n<li>Changes in the way your teeth fit together when you bite<\/li>\n<li>Sensitive teeth<\/li>\n<li>Pain when chewing or biting down<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>2. Brush and Floss Every Day<\/h2>\n<p>Since it\u2019s February, the time for New Year\u2019s resolutions might be long over, but that doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t try to implement some positive change into your routine. Set an alarm every morning and every night to brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristled brush. It may also help to set a separate alarm to floss every evening. Alternatively, you could place your floss on your pillow every day. That way you\u2019re reminded to do it every night before bed.<\/p>\n<h2>3. Eat a Mouth-Healthy Diet<\/h2>\n<p>Cavities aren\u2019t the only risk of eating a diet high in sugar. The more sugar you consume, the more plaque eventually builds up on your teeth and along your gumline. Bacteria in plaque may then irritate your gum tissue, resulting in gum disease.<\/p>\n<p>Replace sugary drinks with water, and sweet treats with fresh fruits and vegetables. Every time you feel the urge to munch on something sweet, pop in a piece of sugar-free gum instead. It will satisfy your craving while also stimulating the production of saliva, which cleans your teeth!<\/p>\n<h2>4. See Your Dentist Regularly<\/h2>\n<p>As mentioned earlier, gum disease may or may not even show symptoms at first. That\u2019s why you should visit your dentist in Springfield every six months at least. At these appointments, the dentist can diagnose early signs of gum disease while treatment is still relatively easy and inexpensive. The dental hygienist can also rid your teeth of built-up plaque that might contribute to gum disease in the future.<\/p>\n<p>February is about more than finding the perfect gift for your significant other. It should also be about keeping your gums as healthy as possible!<\/p>\n<h2>About the Author<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.smilespringfield.com\/meet-the-dentists.html\">Dr. Matt VanderMolen<\/a> has been serving the dental needs of the Springfield, IL community for more than 30 years. He has achieved a Fellowship with the Academy of General Dentistry and takes more than 100 hours of continuing education courses every year. His practice, Advanced Dental Care of Springfield, offers dental deep cleanings to treat gum disease. If you think you may have gum disease, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.smilespringfield.com\/contact-us.html\">contact<\/a> Dr. VanderMolen\u2019s office at (217) 546-3333.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When you think of February, you probably think of the color red. After all, it\u2019s the color of love and Valentine\u2019s Day\u2026 and gum disease? That\u2019s right, February is also National Gum Disease Awareness Month. Gum disease is estimated to affect more than half of the adult population of the United States at some point [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1075","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Gum Disease Treatment in Springfield | Bleeding Gums | Dr. Matt VanderMolen<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Since February is Gum Disease Awareness Month, here are 4 things to do to prevent you from needing gum disease treatment in Springfield.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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