Gingivitis is a prevalent condition that can be described as early-stage gum disease. It is a condition where your gum is inflamed due to plaque buildup or bacterial infection in your mouth. Fortunately, this condition can be reversed to prevent it from advancing to a more severe periodontal disease. Dr. Scott Young is a gingivitis specialist in The Woodlands and can help you manage this condition, should you develop signs related to it. However, Dr. Young believes that with proper care, you can avoid this condition. And because prevention is better than cure, look at the following ways you can prevent gingivitis.
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Brushing Your Teeth Thoroughly and Properly
As obvious as this may sound, it is a very crucial part of maintaining good oral health. Brushing may not be a problem, but doing it the right way matters. It is advisable to brush your teeth at least twice a day, or every meal. Although this may sound simple, many people still do it the wrong way. Therefore, it is a good idea to ask your dentists about the right technique to brush your teeth.
Generally, it is also advisable to use circular and vertical motions as you cover your back and front teeth for at least two minutes.
Floss Daily
Don’t just be good at brushing your teeth and forget to floss them. Note that no matter how thorough you can brush, there are parts in your mouth where your toothbrush can’t reach. Therefore, always floss at least once a day, preferably before brushing, to loosen the food particles and plaques. This makes the particles and plaques brush away easily and will create room for your teeth to absorb enough of the toothpaste’s protective fluoride.
Use Mouthwash to Rinse
After you brush and floss, you should gargle using an antiseptic or antimicrobial, rinsing any remaining particles and disinfecting your mouth. The mouthwash kills bacteria that contribute to plaque buildup and stops bad breath.
Avoid Sugary and Acidic Foods or Beverages
Although it is not the amount of sugary or acidic foods and beverages you take that is a concern, the frequency of taking the items affects your oral health. Therefore, you can choose to limit the intake of such harmful foods and beverages or limit how often you take them. This is because such foods weaken your teeth for up to an hour and, therefore, can cause great damage when taken often.
Schedule Regular Checkups and Cleanings
Although you can clean your teeth properly, there is always a need for professional teeth cleaning. Your dentist can get to parts you probably missed as you were brushing and flossing and remove the plaque and tartar build up. Also, it is during these regular checkups where your dentist will be able to monitor the overall health of your mouth and catch any problems that may arise.
Keep Off Tobacco Products
Most tobacco products are harmful to your oral health, increasing your risks for gingivitis and even cancer. If you smoke, your gum gets irritated, which encourages plaque formation. If you chew tobacco, it similarly affects your oral health, exposing your gum to germs, increasing gingivitis risks. Therefore, if you are to use tobacco products, please consult your dentist for advice.
There are many ways to prevent gingivitis, and one clear thing is that you have to maintain good oral health and make appointments with your dentist. You can contact Scott Yung, DDS to book an appointment to learn more about how you can manage gingivitis and, above all, how you can prevent the condition.