3 Tips For Improved Gum Health

at home oral health dentist arlington heightsGum disease is one of the most common dental concerns that we treat in our Arlington Heights, IL dentist office. Caused by an extensive buildup of plaque and tartar, gum disease can often be avoided by simple changes to your oral hygiene habits. If you are looking to learn more about improving your gum health and avoiding gum disease, read our three best tips below:

Brush & Floss

Brushing and flossing are essential to better gum health. You should brush and floss your teeth at least twice a day. Plaque and tartar begin to collect on your teeth when food residue is allowed to remain on your dental structures for an extended amount of time. When you brush and floss, you are removing that residue before it is allowed to harden. The more that you skip brushing and flossing, the more likely you are to develop dental concerns like tooth decay and gum disease. Set a daily schedule that includes brushing once in the morning and once at night for improved gum health.

Chew Sugar-Free Gum

While brushing and flosssing twice a day is recommended, many patients enjoy drinking and snacking throughout the day, introducing more food residue onto their teeth. We understand it can be difficult to step away while at work or school, or a social event to brush and floss your teeth. To combat mid-day food residue, we suggest chewing sugar-free gum. Sugar-free gum will not only freshen your breath, but dislodge any food residue from between your dental structures. This will leave your smile refreshed for the rest of the day before you are able to brush again.

Dental Cleanings

When plaque and tartar begin to develop, it may be hard for patients to keep their smiles clean. The best thing to do for your gum health beyond developing a strict oral hygiene routine is to schedule dental cleanings with your dentist once every six months. When you schedule dental cleanings once every six months, our dental professionals are able to scrape off any plaque or tartar buildup to refresh your gum health and stop gum disease development in its tracks. By ensuring that you make it to the dentist’s office at least twice a year, you can rest assured that your gum health is being monitored and maintained.

Schedule An Appointment

Need a dental cleaning in Arlington Heights, IL? Arlington Heights, IL dentist, Dr. Brent Engelberg offers a full range of general dental services from routine dental cleanings to dental fillings and periodontal therapy.  Schedule an appointment with Dr. Engelberg today!