Gum disease (also known as ) is a serious issue that affects nearly half of American adults. Unfortunately, symptoms can be subtle, making them hard to treat. If it’s caught early, gum disease can be reversed. However, if it’s allowed to progress unchecked, you could pass the point of no return. Here are six ways that you can prevent gum disease and keep your smile healthy.
1. Maintain Good Oral Hygiene
Although this may seem obvious, good oral care is crucial for healthy gums. Brushing your teeth is not enough—especially when it comes to gum disease. You should add flossing to your routine to reduce the risk of plaque building up and damaging your gums. When flossing, be sure to get up and under your gums to remove any plaque that’s hiding there.
Using an antimicrobial mouthwash low in alcohol can also be very beneficial to your oral health. Gingivitis treatment can be as simple as scheduling a teeth cleaning and practicing good oral hygiene.
2. Take In Vitamin C
Vitamin C deficiency is one of the leading causes of gum disease. Including more vitamin C in your diet not only helps prevent gum disease, but can also help treat any symptoms you might have. Vitamin C has healing properties that can stop your gums from swelling or bleeding while stabilizing loose teeth.
3. Watch Your Diet
Nothing helps more in preventing gum disease than maintaining a healthy diet. Be sure to avoid sugary foods and drinks, as they can lead to tooth decay and gum damage.
Eating a balanced and nutritious diet filled with vitamins and minerals can boost your immunity and help ward off many diseases, including gum disease. Try incorporating foods that are high in collagen, beta carotene, and omega-3s for best results.
4. Drink Water
Staying hydrated is necessary for preventing gum disease, as well as promoting overall health. Drinking plenty of water produces more saliva, which helps fight off bacteria that can cause gum infection. Make sure you’re drinking the recommended amount of water each day for your age and body type.
5. Avoid Tobacco
Smoking cigarettes and using tobacco products has been known to cause countless health issues, especially gum disease. Tobacco products are very harmful to your gums and should be avoided at all costs.
Even other tobacco sources, such as chewing tobacco, cigars, and e-cigarettes, are harmful to your gums. It’s best to steer clear of tobacco products altogether if you want healthy teeth and gums.
6. Limit Your Alcohol Intake
Similar to tobacco, alcohol can have a negative effect on your overall oral health. Alcohol dries out your mouth which can enable bacteria to flourish and cause more damage to your teeth and gums. A lot of alcoholic beverages are acidic which can erode your enamel leaving them more sensitive and discolored.
7. Teeth Cleanings
Seeing our dentists regularly cannot be stressed enough. A routine teeth cleaning can help prevent gum disease by removing plaque hiding in between teeth and along the gum line. During your dental cleaning, our dentists will also be able to spot like bleeding gums.
Call Today!
Our Michigan dentists want to help you keep your smile healthy for life. To schedule an appointment with Robinson Dental, call any of our offices in Cascade, Coopersville and Wayland. We’d be more than happy to answer any questions you might have about gum disease treatment.
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This blog post has been updated.
