Follow These Tips to Prevent the Development of Gum Disease

Most people know that gum disease is all too common. They know that they should brush and floss daily to reduce their chances, but what else can be done? Keep reading to learn how you can lower your chances of developing gum disease, and then contact California Dental Group at (800) 407-0161 to set up a dental exam and gum disease treatment or prevention plan.

Oral Hygiene Can Prevent 90% of Gum Disease

It is true that brushing and flossing regularly and correctly can significantly reduce your chances of developing gum disease. In fact, some studies show that it can reduce the chance by 90%. However, this requires that you are brushing at least twice per day and that you are flossing at least once per day.

You must also be visiting the dentist every six months for a full cleaning and exam. During these exams, we can remove plaque and tartar that you cannot get rid of without professional cleanings. This further reduces your chance of developing gum disease and should be considered part of your regular oral hygiene practice.

Look at Your Daily Habits

It is possible that some of the daily habits you don’t think twice about are actually increasing your chance of developing gum disease. For example, do you drink soda? It is acidic and has sugar. When either of these substances comes into contact with your saliva, they can become more acidic. This extra acid can actually break down your teeth and make your gums more susceptible to gum disease.

Do you smoke? If so, you should know that this greatly increases your chance of developing gum disease due to the tar and nicotine. They are both bad for your teeth and your gums.

Look at Your Diet

What you eat – or don’t eat – could also have an impact on your likelihood of developing gum disease. If you are not getting the recommended vitamins and minerals, then you could be weakening your immune system, which makes it harder to fight inflammation and infection – both of which are issues that affect your likelihood of developing gum disease. Vitamin C and Vitamin D, in particular, are very beneficial for oral health.

Drink Plenty of Water

If you have dry mouth, then you have an increased chance of developing gum disease. Why? Because your saliva actually acts as a natural cleaner for your teeth. If you have dry mouth, then you have less saliva, and your mouth cannot clean itself as effectively.

Talk to Your Doctor if You Are Pregnant

Pregnant women have a higher chance of developing gum disease compared to the general population because of the changing hormonal levels. If you are pregnant, talk to your doctor about special options that could help you take better care of your gums to avoid pregnancy-related gum disease.