Dental health care typically focuses on prevention. When healthy, your teeth and gums are well-equipped to fight the harmful oral bacteria that lead to tooth decay and gum disease. Therefore, preventive care typically means making sure your teeth and gums are healthy enough for the fight. For instance, avoiding the serious consequences of gum disease, such as tooth loss, can often be as simple as minimizing the oral bacteria that your gums are exposed to with consistently good hygiene and regular preventive care at your dentist’s office.
1. Brush along your gum line.
Brushing and flossing your teeth at least twice a day are the cornerstones of good hygiene and dental prevention. Oral bacteria constantly accumulate to form dental plaque that adheres to your teeth and along your gum line. When you brush, be sure to carefully clean along your gum line to prevent oral bacteria from working their way underneath the tissues and leading to gum disease.
2. Visit your dentist at least twice a year.
In addition to daily care at home, avoiding gum disease also requires regular checkup and cleaning appointments, which you should attend at least twice every year. During your visits, your dentist will not only thoroughly clean away plaque and tartar (calcified plaque), but also check to ensure that gum disease hasn’t already begun to develop. If it has, then your visit could mean early detection and treatment, which significantly improves your chances of avoiding consequences like tooth loss.
3. Pay attention to warning signs.
When bacteria are allowed to settle on your teeth roots, the infection they cause (known as gingivitis) can result in a number of symptoms, including inflammation and bleeding in your gums. These symptoms may not seem severe at first, and they do not typically cause discomfort, so many people underestimate their importance. If your gums seem red and slightly swollen, or if you notice blood when you brush and floss your teeth, then you should schedule a visit with your dentist even if it isn’t time for your checkup and cleaning appointment.
Learn More About Preventing Gum Disease
Gum disease might be one of the most common chronic oral health conditions, but with the right care and maintenance, preventing it may be easier than you thought. To learn more, schedule a consultation by calling Cedar Dental in Cedar Rapids, IA, today at (319) 364-7108. We also welcome patients from Mount Vernon, Iowa City, Hiawatha, and all nearby communities.
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