According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, . While gingivitis only affects the gums, periodontal disease can affect your gums and the bones that support your teeth. Thankfully, preventing gum disease can be easy when you schedule regular dental checkups and practice good oral hygiene.
Here are some of the and maintain a healthy smile:
- Practice good oral hygiene
- Get more Vitamin C
- Eat a balanced diet
- Stay hydrated
- Schedule teeth cleanings
- Know your risk of gum disease
1. Practice Good Oral Hygiene
Gum disease is caused by untreated dental plaque buildup on your teeth and gums. While you’ll still need a professional teeth cleaning to get rid of tartar (hardened plaque), brushing your teeth at home will remove most plaque. Make sure you also floss once daily to remove dental plaque hiding between teeth and along the gum line. Gum disease is caused by untreated plaque buildup, so make sure you practice good oral hygiene every day.
2. Get More Vitamin C
Vitamin C deficiency has been found to be one of the leading causes of gum disease. Eating more oranges, strawberries, kiwis, or even Vitamin C supplements can help boost your resistance against gum disease. Vitamin C has healing properties that can help stop gums from bleeding and swelling—common gum disease symptoms.
3. Eat a Balanced Diet
Not only is a balanced diet good for your smile, but it can help improve overall health. Be sure to stay away from sugary foods and drinks that can lead to tooth decay and gum disease. A balanced diet filled with vitamins and minerals will boost your immunity and help prevent gum disease.
Before putting something in your grocery cart, be sure to check the nutritional information on the package. Many of the foods and drinks we believe to be healthy can contain high levels of sugar like fruit juices and sports drinks.
Read more: The best and worst foods for your teeth >>
4. Stay Hydrated
While it may seem weird to think about, saliva is one of our best natural defenses against dental plaque. After you eat a meal, your body produces more saliva to wash away plaque and food particles. To maintain a healthy smile, make sure you drink plenty of water throughout the day. Also, keep in mind that certain drinks (like coffee and alcohol) can dehydrate you.
5. Schedule Teeth Cleanings
During a teeth cleaning, a dental hygienist will be able to remove plaque from teeth. Later on, your dentist will be able to check for the signs of gum disease so you can maintain a healthy smile.
While gingivitis is reversible, periodontitis is not. However, if your dentist discovers advanced gum disease, they will be able to do scaling and root planing to help prevent receding gums and other oral health issues. Since patients with periodontitis have deep gum pockets around teeth, your dentist will recommend gum disease treatment.
Bonus Tip: Know Your Risk
Like we mentioned above, about 47.2% of Americans age 30 and older have some form of periodontal disease. One of the best ways to prevent gum disease is to know your risk and talk to our dentist. We’ll be able to spot the warning signs that gum disease could be on the horizon, such as smoking and advanced age.
It’s important to understand that gum disease isn’t inevitable if you have risk factors. You can lower your risk of gum disease significantly by following the advice in this blog post and scheduling regular appointments with our office.
Request an Appointment With Us
Our gum disease dentist in Grand Rapids, MI is accepting new patients! To request an appointment with Dr. Suk Jun Yun, call the NorthPointe Family Dental & Implant Center at northpointefamilydental@gmail.com.