4 Ways To Prevent And Treat Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease can happen when bacteria in your mouth infects your gums. Over time, periodontal disease can erode your bones, leading to many potentially painful problems. If your gums bleed when you brush or floss your teeth, that's a sign that your gum health is in danger. Here are four ways you can protect yourself from periodontal disease.
1. Floss every day.
Flossing is an important part of any dental health routine. While brushing twice daily is a good habit, it isn't sufficient to get rid of all the plaque that can build up between your teeth and below your gumline. When you floss, make sure to gently wiggle your floss beneath your gums. This will help you clean out any bacteria lurking at the base of your teeth. When in doubt, ask your dentist to demonstrate the proper flossing technique to you.
2. Brush properly.
When you brush your teeth, make sure to follow the current guidelines for good tooth-brushing technique. According to Dental Works, brushing in circular motions is a great way to keep your teeth clean without damaging your gums with unnecessary pressure. When you brush your teeth, make sure to carefully brush below your gumline too. You can accomplish this by tilting your toothbrush at an angle and gently brushing along the base of your teeth.
3. Get a deep cleaning.
A deep cleaning can help you if you've been diagnosed with periodontal disease. During a deep cleaning, your dental hygienist will perform a technique called scaling, which will get rid of tartar build up on your teeth. They can either use manual tools or special electronic tools to scrape away plaque from your teeth. This can be uncomfortable when the dental hygienist cleans out plaque from below your gumline, but it's an important treatment that can keep your whole mouth healthy.
4. Get regular periodontal maintenance.
Once you've had a deep cleaning, it's important that you maintain your oral health to keep periodontal disease from worsening or recurring. Pockets of bacteria can form below your gumline when you have periodontal disease, and your dentist will clean out that bacteria during a periodontal maintenance treatment. During this treatment, your dentist will remove tartar and bacteria from your teeth and gums, even going as far as the roots of your teeth.
These are just a few of the ways you can protect yourself from periodontal disease. Remember to see your dentist for regular cleanings, and don't be afraid to contact them for an appointment if you have any concerns about your oral health or want to get more information.