Top Oral Health Tips to Prevent Gum Disease

Having a healthy mouth is very important. It benefits your physical and mental health, as well as your smile. Fortunately, it is quite easy to maintain a healthy mouth. All you need to do is to stick to healthy dental hygiene.

Oral care is not just about how square, aligned, or bright your teeth are. This care should also extend to your gums. Gum disease is a serious and common dental health problem, and nobody is immune to it—even if you do not have cavities. Because gum disease is pain-free at first, most people cannot tell that they have it.

What Is Gum Disease?

Gum disease, also generally known as periodontal disease, is a harsh dental condition caused by bacteria. The disease destroys your teeth and gums and damages your jawbone.

In the early stage, gum disease may cause your gums to swell, redden, or even bleed. This condition is called gingivitis. As the disease progresses, it becomes a severe condition called periodontitis.

Periodontitis causes the gums to pull back from the tooth as the bacteria eats away at your jawbone. When this happens, you can lose your jawbone and your teeth may become loose or fall out.

What Can You Do to Prevent Gum Disease?

The mouth is full of various bacteria, both good and bad. The goal is to control the harmful bacteria and stop their growth. Here is how you can go about doing that.

• Maintain a Good Oral Hygiene Practice

Brush two times a day. Practice brushing your teeth every time you eat to remove food debris that sticks between your teeth and gums. Remember to brush your tongue because it can harbor harmful bacteria. Your toothbrush should be soft-bristled and able to fit inside your mouth without difficulty.

Along with that, floss daily. Flossing can help remove food particles in areas where your toothbrush cannot reach.

• Use Fluoride

Use fluoride toothpaste to brush your teeth and, where possible, a fluoride mouthwash to rinse your mouth. Fluoride is the most significant toothpaste ingredient. It helps clear your mouth of plaque and tartar, fights cavities, and prevents tooth decay.

• Avoid Smoking

Smoking is not beneficial to your oral health. It saps your immune system and makes it more difficult for your body to drive away a gum infection.

• Control Diabetes

Diabetes increases a person’s risk of developing other health problems, including gum disease. High levels of sugar in your blood increase the level of sugar in your mouth fluids. That encourages the development of bacteria that can trigger gum disease.

If you have diabetes, work to maintain a balanced blood sugar level.

• Watch What You Eat or Drink

Avoid sugary foods and drinks. Sugar contributes to the growth of harmful bacteria in your mouth.

• See Your Dentist Regularly

Your dentist can detect changes in your mouth or catch symptoms of gum disease early if you visit them frequently. Regular teeth cleanings can also help remove any plaque and tartar that you miss when brushing or flossing your teeth.

For more on top oral health tips to prevent gum disease, visit The Center for Cosmetic and Family Dentistry at our offices in Destin, Panama City Beach, or Navarre, Florida. You can also call 850-810-0300, 850-810-0600, or ​​​​​850-409-6400 to book an appointment today.