Gum disease can lead to serious consequences for your smile, including the risk of losing your tooth! So, you’d be surprised to learn that avoiding a serious disease issue like periodontal disease can often be accomplished with routine home care. With the right steps, you and your dentist can help prevent the onset of gum disease.
Try Our Quiz on Gum Disease Prevention with Routine Care
- True or False: Brushing your teeth can help control plaque buildup.
- True or False: Flossing is essential for healthy gums.
- True or False: Smoking can worsen the state of your gums.
- True or False: Routine six-month visits are still necessary.
Answer Key
- True. When you brush your teeth properly, you help reduce the amount of plaque that forms in between your dental cleaning visits. You should be brushing for two minutes each time, once in the morning and again before bed. We suggest either a manual or electric brush with soft bristles.
- True. Flossing removes the food particle that can remain trapped between the teeth, particles that a toothbrush’s bristles can’t reach. You should floss every night, up and down the length of each tooth, to help reduce the risk of gum inflammation.
- True. When you smoke or use tobacco products, then you can make the onset of periodontitis, the advanced stage of periodontal disease, more likely. This stage is responsible for loose teeth and in some cases, adult tooth loss.
- True. A six month checkup allows us to monitor the health of your gums. A cleaning, which is in the same visit, actually removes all plaque from the teeth, a major step towards protecting your smile from gum disease.
To learn more, schedule a consultation online, or call our office today at (847) 230-9703.