5 Things That Can Help Prevent Gum Disease

Periodontal disease, otherwise known as gum disease, can usually be treated with some good old fashioned oral hygiene. Oral hygiene plays a crucial role in the good health of your mouth, including your teeth, gums, and jaws. Keeping these areas healthy is not only important for your physical dental health, but also for your appearance, odor, and social life as well. When people
s mouths aren
t clean, it can be noticeable to others. Don
t become socially withdrawn from your oral issues. Check in with a periodontics specialist at Central Florida Periodontics to see how to prevent gum disease.

Brushing Teeth Night and Day

Brushing your teeth is a great way to avoid developing bacteria that comes from the plaque on your teeth, a chalky-like substance that manifests as a film over your teeth. Brushing this plaque away twice per day is the first step toward removing the risk of periodontal disease. Brush in a circular motion across your teeth, in between teeth, and up into where the teeth penetrate the gum cavity. Be as thorough as possible. It
s recommended to brush your teeth for two full minutes, once in the morning and again in the evening before bed. Also, don
t forget your tongue. This is a place where bacteria likes to hang out in your mouth.

oral hygiene

Flossing Teeth and Gums

Do you floss? You may not realize it, but flossing is actually quite important because it
s an extension of brushing teeth. You should floss at least once per day, but it wouldn
t hurt to make it a habit every time you brush to floss your teeth and gums as well. Food and debris get stuck in those teeth-gum cavities and develops into nasty byproducts of improper pH level, bacteria, and infection. The combination of those will cause gum disease, so if you want a lesson in how to prevent gum disease, oral hygiene that includes healthy doses of flossing should top the list.

Using mouthwash

Using mouthwash is an extra beneficial step to clear away food debris that you might have missed when you were brushing your teeth or flossing between your teeth and gums. There are multiple kinds of brands and flavors for all ages, but don
t replace it for brushing and flossing. Those two steps are essential. Mouthwash rinse is good for oral hygiene because it freshens breath and acts as an antiseptic rinse that helps eliminate bacteria and other germs.

Avoid Tobacco

Smoking, chewing, and other use of tobacco products orally is definitely not considered good oral hygiene because tobacco use causes serious health risks including: cancer, heart disease, and a number of other serious illnesses. Smoking deteriorates teeth and gum tissue and also destroys the body
s ability to repair them.

Dietary Notes

Some experts have noted that there are certain foods that can be avoided to prevent gum disease such as processed foods and preservatives. There are certain foods that are also believed to help improve the condition including fish with omega-3 fatty acids and Vitamin C. Grass-fed beef is also believed to be a positive choice to help prevent gum disease. Schedule a consultation with a qualified periodontics specialist at Central Florida Periodontics to learn more about how to improve or prevent gum disease.