Gum Disease: What Everyone Should Know About This Oral Health Condition
Think you can't do anything about your gum disease because it is something that runs in your family? You may be surprised at how much control you have over preventing gum disease. Here is what you should know about fighting off the harmful bacteria that causes gum disease.
How Does Gum Disease Start?
Gum disease can start through gingivitis, which is a type of gum disease that is a very common condition that happens to people's gums. Gingivitis can eventually lead to tooth loss as it causes your gums to become swollen, irritated, and red around the base. Since your gums are what hold your teeth in place, having that part of your mouth compromised is what will lead to teeth falling out over time.
What Causes Gum Disease?
The main cause of gum disease is the oral biofilm that is on the surface of your teeth, such as plaque. When you do not brush or floss well enough, the plaque on your teeth can go below the gumline. If this happens, over time, you'll notice that your gums start swelling and turning red. You'll need to clean off that plaque regularly every single day so that the plaque does not turn into tartar.
As long as the plaque is still in that gooey state, it can easily be cleaned off the teeth from brushing and flossing. Once the plaque is on the teeth long enough where it calcifies, it cannot be removed from your teeth using typical cleaning techniques at home. You'll have to visit a dentist to perform a detailed cleaning of your teeth where they literally scrape of the calcified tartar.
What Should Be Done At Home To Prevent Gum Disease?
You should start by flossing twice a day for two minutes each time that you brush. However, it is not enough to simply move the brush around your mouth for two minutes. You'll want to overlap the brush with your gums to agitate the pockets and get the plaque out from beneath the gumline. An electric toothbrush can be capable of getting your gumline clean much better than you would be able to do with a manual toothbrush.
When flossing, wrap the floss around the tooth with a C-shape so that you hug the edges of each tooth. You actually want to go deep enough into the gums where the floss disappears, but avoid putting the floss down hard into the gums to the point where it causes bleeding.
Even if you do a really good job with home care, meet with your dentist regularly to ensure that they are cleaning off that tartar that has formed on your teeth. To set up an appointment, contact a family dentist today.