Gum disease is unfortunately an incredibly common oral health problem, with around 50% of Americans having it to some extent. What’s worse is that the average person also doesn’t know much about what gum disease entails, or even that they’re suffering from it.

It may be a good idea for most people to learn a bit more about gum disease. With that in mind, here are a few facts that you may not know about this condition, and that may be useful for you to know.

If you asked most people what they would change about their teeth, one of the things you’d hear most often is “the color of their smile.” Just about everyone wishes that they had a Hollywood-white smile, and the lucky few who have it are typically incredibly proud of their teeth.

However, any dentist will tell you that there’s a lot more to a healthy smile than a pretty color. In fact, even if you have perfectly white teeth, you could still be dealing with serious oral health problems that need to be addressed. Here’s what you should know about the connection between the color of your teeth and your oral health.