When you smile, nobody wants to see red, swollen gums! But that's what happens to your gums if you have been diagnosed with gum disease.

Gingivitis and periodontitis are two widespread kinds of this disease that can eat away at your teeth. These little bugs do big damage by eroding the parts of your body that hold your teeth together. If you have these diseases, you'll probably notice painful, red, and swollen gums or a problem with your jaw bone.

If you ignore gingivitis, it will quickly become periodontitis. After a while, plaque can spread and grow below the gum line. Toxins in the plaque ultimately start to irritate the gums and the body turns your mouth into a war zone. As a result, the tissues and bone that support the teeth break down and are destroyed. The gums break free from the teeth and leave empty spots in your mouth where bacteria can thrive.

To take care of the issue, the Fairfax City gum disease dentist will make the surfaces of your roots shine and scoop out all of the plaque from empty spaces and ensure that your tooth roots don't have anymore bacteria hanging around.

However, in order to give your gums the treatment they really need, there are certain things you need to do. You will need to floss after every meal. I recommend using waxed dental floss. It's small enough to fit in your purse so you know where it is for use if you are eating a meal out.

Follow up the flossing with a good tooth brushing. Spend two minutes working over your gums and teeth. Make sure you use a little bit of pressure and include the gums. This helps to dislodge the bacteria.

Then, get a waterpik and try that out. If you can find one, make sure you get a waterpik that includes a cannula — that allows you to squirt fluid into the little cracks and crevices in your mouth. You'll appreciate being able to use warm water, hydrogen peroxide and salt with the cannula.

Gum disease is serious, but with the right help, it is manageable. But how successful that will be will depend on trusting yourself and your care to your Fairfax City dentist.