How to Maintain Healthy Gums and Prevent Gum Disease

Jun 01, 2023

Proper oral hygiene will ensure that your teeth and gums are healthy throughout your life. However, it is not for the faint-hearted. You must commit to caring for your teeth daily to ensure they are tip-top.

Practicing proper oral hygiene goes beyond having a beautiful smile. It ensures that you and your loved ones don’t contract the periodontal disease while keeping your teeth strong and disease-free. Our dentist offers preventive dentistry in Laguna Beach, CA, to help you protect your smile.

Gum disease takes time to develop, so it is best that you get ahead of it before it even starts. If you give it a chance to develop, then it is almost impossible to eradicate it completely. In any case, our dentist has some nuggets of wisdom that you can apply to ensure your smile remains healthy.

Regularly Brush Your Teeth

You have this a million times over; brush your teeth daily to avoid cavities and gum disease. There is no better preventive measure than brushing your teeth a few minutes after meals. Bacteria waste no time, so they will digest the food debris and, in the process, destroy your teeth.

Brushing your teeth twice each day and correctly is quite effective in getting rid of plaque and bacteria that accumulate at the gumline and teeth.

Brushing is one thing; applying the proper technique is another. If you are too aggressive, you might damage your gums and enamel, leading to gum erosion and tooth sensitivity. Also, you need to brush in circular motions angling the brush towards the gumline to ensure that you remove plaque from the gumline.

What’s more, you need to invest in the right dental equipment. In other words, contact our dentist near you and ask them to help you pick the correct toothbrush. In most cases, toothbrushes with soft bristles should work out fine.

Floss Once Each Day

Your teeth have five surfaces, so you will only cover three surfaces when you brush them. This is where flossing comes in handy. Flossing will help you deal with the food and bacteria lodged between your teeth, where your toothbrush might not reach.

If left unremoved, the food debris trapped between your teeth can also lead to bad breath. So, gently floss each day and apply the proper technique. This means that you floss down to your gum line using the up and down motion, but be careful not to hurt your gums.

Use a Fluoride Toothpaste

Fluoride is essential for the prevention and elimination of tooth decay. One of the best preventive dentistry near you is fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride is vital in keeping your gums and teeth healthy.

So, the next time you shop for toothpaste, check the ingredients and pick the one that has fluoride.

Use an Antibacterial Mouth Wash

Mouthwashes are your third line of defense after brushing and flossing. Using an antibacterial mouthwash will control plaque buildup, preventing gum disease. Never use mouthwashes in place of brushing and flossing your teeth.

Using the antibacterial rinse once a day can help you keep your breath fresh while keeping oral diseases at bay.

Quit Smoking

Smoking is never good for you. It increases the chances of you developing gum disease and even oral cancer. In fact, tobacco is associated with several cancers. What’s more, smoking is responsible for notorious teeth stains and bad breath.

So, if you can, stay ahead of the oral and overall health issues of smoking, take the necessary steps, and quit smoking.

Cut Back on Sugar and Starch Intake

Starchy and sugary foods largely contribute to cavities, tooth decay, and gum disease. So, you can expect to lose your teeth. You should reduce your intake of such foods and instead consume fresh fruits and vegetables.

Regularly Visit Our Dentist

We always recommend that you visit our dentist regularly. It is best to maintain a regular routine and visit our dentist twice a year or thrice a year. Regular dental visits will help our dentist keep track of your oral health.

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