Get the Most Out of Gum Disease Prevention

Gum disease prevention starts with some of the easiest steps possible. Most people know that if you want to keep your mouth healthy, you have to engage in oral health habits that help your mouth fight the bacteria, along with tartar and plaque buildup. The bacteria in plaque and tartar, if not cleaned for a lengthy period of time, can result in cavities at best and severe gum disease at worst. If you are serious about gum disease prevention, the very first steps you can take is making sure you are keeping your teeth and gums properly clean. In order to do this, you need to make sure you are brushing your teeth carefully at least twice a day. You need to be brushing your teeth and focusing around the gum line for a minimum of two minutes every time you brush. Most importantly for gum disease prevention is the need to visit our dentist office for a biannual cleaning, at least twice a year.

When you come in for a cleaning, we can use specialized tools to clean in hard-to-reach spots, where your toothbrush typically cannot go, and remove the tartar and plaque buildup there. In addition, we are able to get closer underneath the gum line so there is no potential for plaque or tartar to build up there. This is literally the first, and most important, step in gum disease prevention.

In addition to the standard and easy-to-follow advice regarding maintaining your health habits, there are a few other steps you can take should you begin to feel like you are experiencing the symptoms of gum disease. Gum disease prevention starts with great oral care, so if you feel like you are having a symptom of gum disease — bleeding gums, for example — then you need to step up your oral care routine and ensure that you are brushing twice a day using a fluoride toothpaste. In addition, you should be flossing at least once a day as well. If need be, you can add an additional brushing of your teeth, but if you have experienced bleeding of the gums for a longer period of time, you need to come to our dentist office, since we are an expert in gum disease prevention.

Another way to prevent gum disease is to make sure you are using the right tools when you are brushing and flossing. Most people who are concerned about gum disease prevention are surprised to learn that brushing your teeth with an extremely firm bristle causes your teeth and gums to be more irritated than not. Accordingly, the American Dental Health Association recommends using a toothbrush with soft bristles, which clean your teeth and gums most thoroughly without causing irritation. If your toothbrush is causing irritation or even causing your gums to bleed, you need to replace it immediately as part of your strategy for gum disease prevention. If, however, your teeth continue to bleed after you have replaced your toothbrush and some time has passed, then you need to visit the gum disease prevention experts here at our dental clinic.

How Should I Clean and Store My Toothbrush?

Your toothbrush can help take care of your teeth and remove plaque, but you need to return the favor and take care of your toothbrush. Proper cleaning and storage of a toothbrush can include washing it after use and keeping it dry throughout the day. A healthy toothbrush will help to ensure clean and healthy teeth.

The video on toothbrush care from the American Dental Association is for educational and entertainment purposes only. If you have any questions or are interested in more information about proper toothbrush care, then give us a call. No video is a substitute for a professional dentist.