Even if your teeth are free of cavities, you can still have unhealthy gums. And if your gums aren’t healthy, you’re at risk for gum disease.
Gum disease — also referred to as periodontal disease — is an infection of the tissues that hold your teeth in place. The primary cause of gum disease is poor oral hygiene. If you don’t remove plaque from your teeth daily, it can harden into tartar that is impossible to remove on your own. Once tartar is allowed to build up under your gums, it leads to gum disease.
If gum disease goes untreated, it can severely damage not only your gums but also the jawbone that lies beneath them. Destruction of gum tissue and jawbone can lead to permanent tooth loss. Thankfully, you can do plenty of things on your own to prevent the onset of gum disease.
Because Saeed Mokhayeri, DDS and Hengameh Safarcherati, DDS and the rest of our team at Arya Dental in Fullerton, California, are so passionate about preventative dentistry, we’ve provided five ways you can lower your risk of gum disease in this month’s blog.
The best time to brush your teeth is right after you eat. Brushing right after you eat ensures you can remove food particles effectively before they have the opportunity to wreak havoc on your gums. Use an electric toothbrush and toothpaste containing fluoride to maximize plaque removal.
While brushing your teeth is important, it won’t be as effective on its own. Flossing helps remove all the plaque and food debris that gets stuck between your teeth that a toothbrush can’t reach by itself. It doesn’t matter when you floss; just make sure you do it at least once each day.
Therapeutic mouthwashes can help remove bacteria and debris that are missed with toothbrushes and floss. Mouthwash can also reduce tartar buildup and prevent the development of gum disease. You can find therapeutic mouthwashes at your local drugstore.
Smoking negatively affects your health in almost every aspect, and your gums are not exempt. Not only can smoking speed up the development of gum disease, but the habit can also weaken your immune system and make it much more difficult to fight off an infection or recover from any subsequent gum damage.
If you’re in our office regularly, our team can spot the early signs of gum disease and treat it before the infection has had time to do irreversible damage. Plus, the tools we utilize in our office are the only things that can effectively remove tartar and mitigate your risk of developing gum disease.
To schedule a dental cleaning or to learn more about how to prevent gum disease, call our office at 714-646-9546 or book an appointment online today.
