How to Prevent Gum Disease

Disease in any part of the body is a scary thing: so many unknowns and the fear of not knowing what comes next. Gum disease can be one of those situations where you just don’t know what to do. Your Tampa dentist can recommend ways to prevent gum disease, or help you treat it if you’ve already got it. Knowing how to prevent this oral disease can save your mouth and your teeth, and help you avoid costly Tampa dentist visits. 

Prevention of Gum Disease

Brush and Floss
This is absolutely essential to maintain your oral health. Ask any Tampa dentist, and they will say you can’t have a healthy mouth, or body, without brushing and flossing on a daily basis. You should be brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing once to really ensure your mouth is as clean as possible. It is easy to get tired and skip flossing or the occasional night of brushing, but this can have serious consequences.

Mouthwash
Not everyone likes or chooses to use mouthwash, but this can be an added step to prevent gum disease from taking hold in your mouth. We are not perfect, and brushing and flossing won’t always get everything within your mouth; using mouthwash gives an extra rinse to get the last bit of food in those hard-to-reach places. It also can help maintain fresh breath and break down bacteria.

Avoid Poor Habits
Drinking coffee and soda have a huge effect on your mouth. The sugars and acids in these drinks eat away at your enamel and leave teeth exposed to the bacteria that forms plaque. Once plaque is on your teeth, only a dentist can remove it; without regular dental visits, you are at a huge risk for developing gum disease. You should also avoid smoking as this can also compromise your oral health, as well as affect many other parts of your body.

Gum disease can be scary, especially if you don’t know how to prevent it. A solid oral hygiene routine can help you develop good habits that will reduce your risk for gum disease. On top of these at-home habits, be sure to schedule regular cleanings with your dentist; call the team at North Pointe Dental today!