It is very important to take good care of your teeth and mouth. If you don’t, you could risk getting various oral diseases. A very common dental health problem is gum disease. Almost 50% of people 30 years and older struggle with this condition. If it is not observed and treated in a timely matter, you could end up losing teeth or have the disease spread to the jaw bone.
Luckily, there are a few ways to prevent the unpleasantries caused by gum disease. Add these five things to your daily routine and you’ll increase your chances of having healthy teeth.
1. Brush teeth thoroughly
As we all know, brushing your teeth should be a crucial part of your morning/evening routine. However, too often we are in a rush and tend to be more careless when it comes to our dental hygiene. It is recommended to thoroughly brush your teeth for a duration of two minutes. Some people like to set a timer while brushing their teeth to be sure. Especially for children, this can be a great way to instill great dental care habits. Aside from timing, your brushing technique is very important. We recommend brushing your teeth at a 45° angle to the gum line to remove plaque in the most effective way. Also, don’t neglect the back of your teeth, they need brushing too. But whatever you do, don’t press down too hard when brushing your teeth, this could cause damage to your gums and make them bleed.
2. Floss regularly
Aside from brushing your teeth, it is also important to floss regularly. Bacteria can hide in the tiny gaps between your teeth where your even your toothbrush can’t reach them. Dental floss can remove those bacteria and any plaque that your toothbrush does not. It is recommended to use a separate piece of floss for the top and bottom teeth. When flossing, it is possible that you notice some bleeding. This is perfectly normal when flossing for the first time. Once you start flossing on a daily base, this won’t happen anymore. If it does, we advise you to see your dentist to make sure you’re not suffering from gum disease.
3. Use mouthwash
Mouthwash is meant to wash away traces of plaque and food that your toothbrush has missed. It also offers the benefit of freshening your breath. Some mouthwashes even contain antibacterial ingredients for deeper cleaning. However, most antibacterial mouthwashes are prescription-only so if interested you can talk to your dentist to ask if you might benefit from it.
4. Drink water instead of sugary drinks
And of course… Stay away from sugary drinks. To really reduce the risk of getting gum disease, you should drink water instead of sugary drinks. While sugary drinks feed oral bacteria that cause gum disease, water does the opposite. Furthermore, water keeps us well hydrated and stimulates healthy saliva production. If you do find yourself craving something more interesting than plain water, you could try infusing your water with berries, cucumber, lemons or limes.
5. Buy sugar-free gum
Lastly, we advise you to buy gum that is sweetened with sorbitol or xylitol instead of sugar. Chewing gum isn’t necessarily a bad thing though, it encourages saliva glands to produce more saliva which contains enzymes that help prevent bacteria from growing. However, when eating gum that contains sugar, the sugar will feed bacteria, counteracting the beneficial effects of chewing in the first place.
By adding these actions (or at least a few of them) to your daily routine, you will effectively reduce the risk of getting gum disease. Don’t forget to see your dentist regularly for checkups. Because healthy habits result in healthy teeth and a happy you! Don’t forget to see your dentist regularly for checkups.