Avoid Bad Oral Health Habits with Winter Springs’ Periodontists

According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, dental plaque is the main culprit behind periodontal disease. Gradually plaque will destroy the support of your natural teeth, as the bacteria produce toxins that irritate gums. Irritated gums can be identified by red, swollen, and bleeding gums, but the disease can be present without symptoms in some cases. 

As periodontal disease progresses, the supporting gum tissue and bone that holds the teeth in place can deteriorate, resulting in tooth loss. If any of this concerns you and you’d like to schedule an appointment with a Winter Springs periodontist, Central Florida Periodontics can help!

Good Oral Health and Hygiene Tips

The good news is that consistent, proper periodontal care can help alleviate the causes of gum disease. With early intervention, localized treatments can minimize downtime. Following up with your dentist or Winter Springs periodontists every six months for regular professional examinations and cleaning is an excellent way to keep your mouth healthy and stay ahead of periodontal disease. 

The bad news is that, unfortunately, even with the most diligent home dental care, it is still possible to develop some form of periodontal disease. Once the disease begins, the professional intervention our Central Florida Periodontists provides can help slow or stop its progress. 

These habits can help extend the health of your gums and prevent disease: 

  1. Adjust lifestyle and habits: Careful examination into your lifestyle and habits can reveal specific underlying causes of gum disease, and adjusting them can positively impact your oral health. Consider quitting smoking, reducing stress, and working on not clenching and grinding your teeth. Other factors like diabetes care, nutritional needs, and medication can affect your gums’ health, so it’s a good idea to discuss with your primary care physician whether they can make any adjustments to help relieve symptoms. 
  2. Tooth brushing: Regular brushing should be conducted at a 45-degree angle where the gums and teeth meet. Moving in a gentle circular motion is key, with light pressure on the bristles. Continue this process on the teeth’ outside surfaces, followed by the inside of the back teeth. Don’t forget to adjust the brush accordingly for front teeth and biting surfaces, and gently brush the surrounding gum tissue. Rinse vigorously after brushing to remove any loose plaque. 
  3. Flossing: It’s the next important step to removing plaque where your toothbrush cannot reach. Keep the floss wrapped around the middle fingers of both hands, and use your thumb and forefinger to insert the floss between the teeth, using a back-and-forth motion. Don’t force the floss and work to bring it to the gum line before curving it into a C-shape. Move the floss up and down on the side of the tooth, being careful not to cut the gum tissue between the teeth. Repeat this process, adjusting the floss to clean sections as it becomes soiled, in between and around all of the teeth. 
  4. Oral hygiene products: With the number of products on the market, it can be difficult to determine between them, but automatic, electronic toothbrushes are a safe and effective choice for the majority of patients. Fluoride toothpaste and mouth rinses can reduce tooth decay by as much as 40 percent. 
  5. Professional examinations and cleanings: Keeping plaque to a minimum and removing it from places your toothbrush and floss cannot reach is nearly impossible without regular check-ups for cleanings and examinations by a professional. Our Winter Springs periodontist has the expertise to offer the best professional advice and treatments to help you stay on top of your oral hygiene. 

Let Central Florida Periodontics give you something to smile about; contact us today to schedule an appointment with our Winter Springs periodontists.