Dental News

No One Wants Gum Disease: Learn How You Can Prevent It

March 19, 2018

No One Wants Gum Disease: Learn How You Can Prevent It

Gum disease is so common that most adults will have some form of it at some point in their lives. However, that doesn’t mean that you have to simply accept that it’s an eventuality. There are steps you can take to lower your chances of getting gum disease, or to reduce the effects if you do get it. Keep reading to learn how to help prevent gum disease and then contact California Dental Group at (800) 407-0161 to make an appointment with a dental professional.

The top tip: Perform good oral hygiene every day

We know you’ve heard it a million times before but it never stops being important: You need to have good oral home hygiene every single day. This means brushing at least twice a day for at least two minutes each time. This means flossing every day. Don’t be rough on your gums with either brushing or flossing or you could end up doing more damage than good. If you follow this single tip then you could significantly reduce your chances of getting gum disease.

Take extra preventative measures if you’re pregnant

Many women don’t realize that they’re much more likely to get gum disease when they’re pregnant. Why? Because they have an increase in blood flow. The stats show that as many as four out of ten pregnant women will end up with gum disease while they’re pregnant. As a result, if you are pregnant then we recommend you are extremely diligent about your oral health. Let California Dental Group know you’re pregnant and we may recommend extra visits or additional steps to keep your gums healthy.

Make sure you’re getting enough vitamins and that your medications aren’t affecting your gums

There are many reasons that it’s essential to get enough vitamins, including the fact that not doing so can have a negative impact on your gums. Vitamins C and D have a significant impact on your gums and we recommend taking a supplement if you’re not getting enough in your food. Some prescription medications you’re taking could impact how much saliva your mouth creates, which can increase your chances for gum disease.

Saliva serves an important function to clean and protect your mouth. If you have a medication that’s causing dry mouth, make sure that you talk to your doctor and your dentist about how to best combat this potentially damaging side effect.

Stop smoking

If you currently smoke then it’s unlikely you need more evidence that you should quit. However, if you do need one more reason, consider this: Being a smoker significantly increases your chances of getting gum disease. In fact, your entire health profile is likely to improve when you quit smoking.

If you want to ensure that your gums and teeth are as healthy as possible then we recommend visiting your dentist twice a year. Contact California Dental Group at (800) 407-0161 now to make an appointment.

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