Preventing Gum Disease

When you take care of your oral health, you are protecting more than just your teeth. When you brush and floss, you are cleaning out bacteria that can cause cavities as well as gum disease. If your gums do become infected, you may notice that they bleed with relative ease when you are cleaning your teeth. They could also appear to swell, or turn redder in color. It is important to talk to your dentist about addressing periodontal problems when they develop. Over time, a periodontal infection could grow in severity, and become difficult to treat. Gum disease at that stage can also greatly increase your risk for losing teeth.

Keep Up With At-Home Care, Including Flossing

You should be sure to brush and floss your teeth regularly, and effectively. That means doing more than just rushing through these routines. Do you take at least two minutes to brush, and are you brushing at least twice a day? When you floss, do you move the string up and down to cover the spaces between teeth? If you do a poor job keeping up with your oral care habits, problems can develop.

Keep Up With Dental Appointments

A regular dental exam takes a look at gums, your teeth, and the inside of your mouth. This is because they are committed to addressing whatever oral health problems you have that might need to be addressed. This can lead to the detection and treatment of gum disease. When you see your dentist at regular six-month intervals, it can also improve the chances any cavities that develop will be caught while they are still small enough to be treated with a filling.