How to Prevent Gum Disease
Posted on January 11, 2023
Whether you are talking with your child’s pediatric dentist or your own, dental care professionals are always after you to properly brush and floss your teeth. This is because this simple practice can prevent you from experiencing tooth decay and can help you avoid unnecessary surgeries. Regardless, gum disease can be severe if you do encounter it. According to Byte, 30% of adults suffer from gum disease of various levels of severity. You should do whatever you can to prevent gum disease.
What is Gum Disease?
The mildest form of gum disease is called Gingivitis. Gingivitis can cause the gums to become red and swollen, and can even cause bleeding when brushing your teeth. As gum disease progresses, the ailment becomes Periodontitis. With Periodontitis, the teeth can become loose and eventually fall out. Without treatment, the underlying bone that supports the teeth starts to weaken. The signs of severe gum disease include permanent bad breath, loose teeth, bleeding gums, and red and swollen gums.
What is Good Dental Hygiene?
Fortunately, good dental hygiene habits that a pediatric dentist first teaches children about can prevent gum disease before it starts. As with everything, an ounce of prevention is a pound of cure. Be sure to brush your teeth at least twice a day, once in the morning and again in the evening. Brush thoroughly in the front, top, and rear of the teeth, ensuring you focus on easily missed and hard-to-reach areas. You should also floss your teeth at least once a day. Flossing between the teeth will get at stuck food and plaque that brushing often cannot reach.
What Products Should You Use?
You should use fluoride-based toothpaste and ensure that the toothpaste has the American Dental Association (ADA) seal of approval on the label. Try to find a therapeutic mouthwash that has the ADA seal on its label as well. A mouthwash will remove food particles from your mouth before they get stuck on and between your teeth. Mouthwash, however, should not be seen as a substitute for brushing and flossing, but as a supplement.
Taking your child for regular cleanings at your pediatric dentist is essential for your child’s dental health. A professional cleaning will help to remove plaque and tarter that your brushing and flossing can miss. A dentist will also be able to detect the beginning signs of gum disease and will be able to advise how you can reverse it, generally more brushing of the gums as well as the teeth. Give Today’s Orthodontics a call today to schedule an appointment!