When gum disease forms, you can’t cure it. Instead, you will require routine care to manage the disease and protect you from periodontitis, the advanced stage responsible for adult tooth loss. In order to remain free of periodontal disease, you need prevention. How do you protect your smile from gum disease?
Routine Homecare
First, you need to take proper care of your smile from home. Doing so can strengthen your smile’s natural defenses and reduce the risk of gingivitis and gum disease. Each day, you should wake up and brush your teeth for at least two minutes, reaching every surface of the teeth. Approach the teeth at a 45-degree angle for the sides, and use circular motions when cleaning the front facing teeth. At night, you will again need to brush, but even more important, you will need to floss on each side of every tooth.
Knowing the Warning Signs
If you see the dentist at the first sign of trouble, the doctor may be able to catch the issue in the gingivitis stage. At this point, inflammation can be reversed completely. The early signs include changes to the gum tissue, such as soreness, bleeding when you brush or floss, and redness. Don’t ignore these warning signs, see your dentist. Otherwise, gum disease can develop.
Regular Dentist Visits
You need to make time every six months to see the dentist. During these visits, the dentist will examine your smile for warning signs of gum disease. We will also perform a dental cleaning, in which we remove plaque to help safeguard the smile against the disease. If you have any questions about periodontal disease, or if you need to schedule a visit, then please contact our office today.
To learn more, schedule a consultation online, or call our office today at (847) 230-9703.