Keep Gum Disease Away With These 4 Tips
Gum disease is a serious oral health concern that many people are unaware they have. About half of all adults experience some form of gum disease after the age of 30. Fortunately, gum disease is entirely preventable, and we have some great tips for how to keep your gums healthy.
Keep reading to learn more.
Gum Disease 101
Your gums hold your teeth in place and provide a barrier that protects the sensitive tooth roots and jawbone. Gum disease compromises that barrier, allowing harmful bacteria to reach places where they can cause serious damage.
Healthy gums stick tightly to teeth, but when plaque and tartar build up around the gumline, that tissue gets irritated and inflamed, eventually loosening its grip. When that happens, bacteria are free to get underneath and cause trouble.
Why Gum Disease Is so Elusive
The early signs of gum disease are very subtle and usually painless. Unless you have specialized training on how to spot them, they’re easy to overlook. If you aren’t checking your teeth and gums regularly or you wait for a clear visual sign that your gums are infected, you may not catch gum disease early enough to reverse it.
Tips for Healthy Gums
- Brush Your Teeth Consistently After Every Meal
Brushing after every meal is the number one oral hygiene habit you can develop for long-term oral health. Every time you eat, food gets stuck between your teeth and, often, under your gums, attracting plaque-causing bacteria. Brushing your teeth removes food and bacteria.
- Floss Your Teeth At Least Every Day
Every time you floss, you’re cleaning the parts of your teeth that a toothbrush can never reach, not even the best electric kind. If you’re really serious about oral hygiene and preventing gum disease, flossing after every meal will make a big difference.
- Limit Starch and Sugar
This is good general advice, but it will undoubtedly have a positive impact on your oral health. The bacteria in your mouth feed on the starch and sugar in food and produce plaque that sticks to tooth enamel. The more sugar and starch, the more plaque you will see. The more plaque that builds up, the higher your risk for tooth decay and gum disease.
- Visit Pollard Dental Every Six Months
When you see us for regular cleanings and examinations, your hygienist removes any lingering plaque and tartar from your teeth, checks your gums for deep pockets, and looks for signs of gum disease. If we find anything worth noting, we’ll recommend a treatment plan to address it. Sometimes, all you need to do is step up your oral hygiene routine at home. However, if your gum disease is more advanced, Dr. Pollard may need to perform a deep cleaning.
Gum disease is a serious matter, but you can prevent it and keep your smile healthy with good oral hygiene at home and routine cleanings at Pollard Dental, located in Silverdale, WA. Call us to schedule your next cleaning and examination or if you have concerns about your oral health. We’re happy to help.
