Many patients visit our office because they are dealing with the signs and symptoms of gum disease. As your trusted dentist in Durham, NC, we offer comprehensive preventative care and periodontal disease treatment options. Here are our three best tips toward preventing gum disease:
Brush & Floss Regularly
While this might seem like a basic tip, it’s an important one. Brushing and flossing is your main line of defense when it comes to gum disease. Gum disease is caused by a buildup of plaque and tartar surrounding your gum line. This buildup only occurs when food and beverage residue is allowed to remain on your teeth surfaces for an extended period of time. Additionally, even if you are brushing regularly, you could be missing some crucial spots if you are not paying attention to the angles that you are brushing. Remember to rotate your toothbrush around so that it is not just hitting the front-facing portion of your teeth. This will help remove any residue on your chewing surfaces, where most residues tend to hide.
Eat a Healthy Diet
Your diet plays a large role in your dental health. If you commonly eat foods that are high in sugar, you are more at risk for gum disease. Additionally, if you eat a lot of high starch snacks like potato chips, you are also more at risk. This is because starches break down to be simple sugars in your mouth, having a similar effect on your smile as a bowl of candy would. Practicing moderation with sugary or starchy snacks will lessen your chance of developing gum disease. Try substituting some snacks for more smile-friendly ones like fruit smoothies, carrot sticks, or string cheese. If you do indulge in a sugary or starchy snack, make sure you follow it up with a thorough tooth-brushing and flossing session.
Schedule Regular Dental Appointments
The unfortunate reality of gum disease is that it can affect anyone. Even if you practice your best oral hygiene routine at home consistently, you are still at risk for developing gum disease if you do not see a dental professional regularly. This is because plaque and tartar are stubborn and will hide on your teeth surfaces without you even noticing. If you see small spots of blood when you brush or floss your teeth, this is a sign that you are experiencing early-stage gum disease or gingivitis. When this happens, it’s a good sign that you should schedule your next oral health and wellness visit. During these visits, our hygienists clean your teeth surfaces of any plaque and tartar buildup, halting the progression of gum disease. The best way to prevent gum disease is to schedule regular oral health and wellness visits. We recommend seeing a professional dentist once every six months. If it has been a while since you’ve seen a dentist, give us a call at 919.518.9963, or request an appointment online today.