How to prevent Gum Diseases

Gum disease is also known as periodontal (pronounced: per-ee-oh-don-tul) disease.
Periodontal disease is an infection of the tissues and bone that support the teeth. Untreated gum disease can become very serious, causing teeth to become loose or fall out.
Gum disease is usually caused by a buildup of plaque, an invisible sticky layer of germs that forms naturally on the teeth and gums. Plaque contains bacteria, which produce toxins that irritate and damage the gums.

Tobacco products Not only can smoking or chewing tobacco make your teeth yellow and fragile, but they can also increase your risk of gum disease. In addition, smoking or chewing tobacco could highly increase you risk of lung or mouth cancer. The bottom line is, tobacco is not good for your oral health, period.

Prevention Tips:

Floss daily One of the top causes of gum disease is plaque left between teeth due to nonexistent or inefficient flossing and brushing routines. You should floss between all of your teeth every day in order to keep up with the plaque that is building there. Doing this will increase your oral health significantly.

Use mouth rinses FDA-approved antimicrobial mouth rinses will help kill harmful bacteria in your mouth and promote healthy gums and teeth. Check with your dentist to see if the mouth rinse you are using is good for your teeth and how often they recommend you use it.

Brush twice a day for at least 3 minutes each time (about the length of your favorite song) and floss daily. If you're not sure whether you're brushing or flossing properly, your dentist or dental hygienist can show you the best techniques.

Monitor medications some drugs and medications may increase your risk for periodontal disease. If you take calcium blockers, cancer treatment drugs, steroids, or anti-epilepsy drugs you may have higher risk. This certainly does not mean you should not take those medications, it simply means you should check in with your doctor and dentist regularly.

Regular dental visits most importantly, you should make regular visits with your dentist to ensure your oral health. In addition to having scheduled check-up visits, you should keep track of any existing bridges, fillings or other dental work. If a filling comes out, make an emergency appointment to get it repaired.

An important part of good oral health knows how to brush and floss correctly. Thorough brushing each day removes plaque. Gently brush the teeth on all sides with a soft bristle brush using fluoride toothpaste. Circular and short back-and-forth strokes work best. Take the time to brush carefully along the gum line. Lightly brushing your tongue also helps to remove plaque and food debris and makes your mouth feel fresh.

In addition to brushing, using dental floss is necessary to keep the gums healthy. Proper flossing is important because it removes plaque and leftover food that a toothbrush cannot reach. Your dentist or dental hygienist can show you the best way to brush and floss your teeth. If brushing or flossing results in bleeding gums, pain or irritation, see your dentist at once.

Regular dental care is extremely important in helping to keep your mouth healthy. Visit your dentist for routine care — especially cleaning — at least twice a year. Your dentist can remove hardened plaque and any tartar that you're not getting to with brushing or flossing.