Along with brushing and flossing regularly, having regular visits to the dentist and eating a balanced diet, practicing good dental habits can all help to prevent gum disease.
We’ll start with the basics:
- Brush your teeth
Brushing your twice a day is obviously one of the most important things to do to prevent gum disease, but it’s not just for your teeth.
Your tongue is the perfect environment for bacteria so make sure to give it a good scrubbing. This also helps to get rid of any bad breath.
- Floss once a day
Flossing ensures you get any remaining plaque between your teeth, out of your teeth. Choose a floss that suits your teeth best, get it in between your teeth and move up and down, instead of back and forth, to get all of the plaque out and reduce your chances of gum disease.
If you haven’t flossed before your gums may bleed, so try out different types of floss to make sure you have the right size and style.
- Try out disclosing tablets
Disclosing tablets are chewable, and they show any plaque left on your teeth after brushing. These can show you if you’re brushing correctly. Don’t be too hard on yourself if you find out there’s still a lot left. Do consider replacing your toothbrush or trying out new toothpaste. Disclosing tablets are great for finding out which mouthwash or toothpaste are working best for you, in your quest to reduce your chances of gum disease.
If you have any questions about how you can prevent gum disease, contact your dentist. We’re here to help you and your smile.