Avoiding Gum Disease Is Easier Than You Think
One of the more prominent myths we encounter as dentists is that at some stage in life, tooth loss is inevitable.
30+ years ago, dental aids like brushes, floss and toothpaste were nowhere near as equipped to protect our teeth as they are now. Today, dentists and hygienists have significantly better methods and tools at their disposal. But, there is still some work to be done.
Gum disease remains the main reason why adults lose their teeth. One of the biggest reasons for this is that many people still don’t attend the hygienist, or understand how gum disease occurs and affects their teeth.
But avoiding gum disease is actually completely possible, and related tooth loss doesn’t have to be a fact of life.
Avoid gum disease with these simple steps (it’s easier than you think!)
Don’t neglect flossing
Patients are always shocked to learn that failing to floss their teeth means they’re missing out on cleaning a third of their tooth surfaces.
If you apply this same stance to other aspects of your personal hygiene (like having a shower), it puts a different colour on the situation – you wouldn’t dream of having a shower and missing out on cleaning a whole third of your skin!
Flossing once or twice a day takes no more than 30-60 seconds, and it’ll prevent bad breath too (because no one wants food particles stuck between their teeth for days on end!)
See the hygienist 1-2 times a year
Seeing the hygienist regularly is on par with brushing and flossing every day. Without visits to the hygienist, your gums will suffocate underneath the layer of plaque that forms periodically.
The longer plaque stays on your teeth, the greater your risk of gum disease and losing teeth.
Drink water after mealtimes
Water is a powerful ally to your teeth, and it only takes a couple of sips to wash away food particles between your teeth after mealtimes.
Water has been proven to fight bacteria and to neutralise the acids that would otherwise cause attacks in your mouth. Lack of hydration is one of the leading causes of gum disease. Without saliva flow and regular rinsing of your mouth with water, bacteria can set up camp on your teeth, gum line and tongue, and multiply.
If you’re not huge on water, fruit and veg containing high water content (think cucumber, spinach and melon) can also help rinse out your mouth after you’ve enjoyed a meal.
Make some small changes to your diet
The food market is by no means perfect, but improvements to inform customers of the nutritional value of what they buy have been made.
Apps like Yuka give you the possibility of instantly checking the sugar content, additives and carcinogenic ingredients in certain products. These types of ingredients are known to cause gum inflammation and gum disease and cutting back on them (even if it’s a 20% cut back) will pay dividends to your oral health.
Make brushing sessions enjoyable
This might sound like a tall order (we get it, brushing is boring…!) but there are loads of ways you can get through your 2 x 2-minute sessions.
Listen to a short podcast.
Choose a toothbrush you’ll enjoy using. Many toothbrushes now come in cool designs and colours - let’s face it, you’re more likely to want to pick up your brush if it looks cool and appealing! Sonic toothbrushes from Ordo or SURI certainly look the part (and you can grab 15% off by using the code NOVA too)!
Ask a dentist for (free) gum disease advice
If you’ve experienced symptoms of gum disease in the past like:
bleeding gums
changes to the colour of your gums
gaps in your teeth
loose teeth
it might be time to speak to a dentist as soon as possible.
Want to speak to a dentist free of charge? We offer free guidance via an online form. Simply ask your question and receive a swift reply from one of our experienced dentist.
