Your Best Defense Against Gum Disease

Maintaining a healthy mouth means making sure that your teeth are clean and taking care of your gums! Keeping up with the health of your gums can prevent gum diseases like gingivitis and periodontitis. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to keep your gums healthy! Here are a few proven methods of defense against gum disease!

Health Tips to Prevent Gum Disease

Oral health goes beyond brushing, flossing, and dental visits. It includes being mindful of the things we eat and drink! Developing these habits will help keep your teeth and gums strong and healthy.

• Stay Hydrated: Did you know that saliva is our body’s natural defense against plaque? Drinking plenty of water will help keep a steady supply of saliva to wash away food particles, sugars leftover from drinks, and pesky plaque.
• Eat More Vitamin C: Eating vitamin C-rich foods like strawberries, oranges, and kiwis can boost your immune system and increase your resistance to gum disease. In fact, one of the leading causes of gum disease comes from a lack of vitamin C. So make sure you are eating your vitamin C-rich fruits!
• Eat a Balanced Diet : Eating balanced meals is not only good for your overall health, but it can also help you maintain a healthy mouth! Make sure you fill up on healthy fruits and veggies and stay away from overly acidic or sugary foods and drinks. The plaque in your mouth feeds on carbs and sugar, leading to tooth and gum damage. Be careful of coffee and alcohol, as these drinks actually dehydrate your teeth and prevent saliva from doing its job protecting your teeth!

Oral Health Practices of Defense Against Gum Disease

In addition to adopting healthy habits like drinking more water and eating a balanced diet, you can practice these oral health habits to ensure that your gums are healthy and damage-free.

• Brush and Floss Twice a Day: We know you hear this one a lot, but it is the easiest way to keep your teeth and gums clean and healthy! By brushing and flossing regularly, you prevent any kind of plaque buildup on your teeth. Plaque, by itself, releases acids that can cause tooth and gum damage. When plaque builds up and mixes with other minerals in your mouth, it will harden and become tartar, which can inflame and irritate your gums, causing damage. Simply brushing and flossing your teeth daily benefits your oral health tremendously!
• Keep Up With Your Teeth Cleanings: Visiting our office every four to six months for a dental cleaning allows us to remove any plaque or tartar from your teeth and examine the overall health of your teeth and gums. We will be able to identify any signs of gum damage and work with you to create a plan to keep your mouth feeling good and healthy! **

Schedule an Appointment Today

Do you have questions or concerns about defending against gum disease? We are here to help! Contact us to schedule an appointment today.