Your gums are the pillars to your smile. They keep your teeth firmly rooted in your mouth. Like a porch without strong pillars, a smile without healthy gums will collapse. This is why healthy gums are so important.
At H. Ray Hazen, DDS Implant and Cosmetic Dentistry, we believe everybody deserves access to dental health knowledge. That’s why we’re dedicating this blog to talking about different oral health quandaries and local news in the Rochester area.
4 Ways to Prevent Periodontal Disease
There are many factors that play into keeping healthy gums. From lifestyle choices to flossing at least once a day, there are quite a few precautions you can take for your gum health. If you’re not already doing these, here are some habits you should follow to prevent and treat gum disease:
- Brush twice a day, at a minimum. Brushing twice a day probably seems like common sense to most people.But, you’d be surprised at how many people only brush their teeth in the morning because they’re too worn out to brush their teeth in the evening. Brushing at least twice a day knocks food loose, so bacteria have less to feed on. For a more effective routine, try brushing after every meal. It’s important to remember to be gentle when brushing your gums, because brushing too harshly contributes to gum recession.
- Floss once a day. A survey by NPR showed that about 27% of adults lie to their dentists about how often they floss their teeth. Flossing is one of the most important ways to keep gum disease at bay, because it helps scrape out the nooks and crannies of your teeth that your toothbrush can’t reach. Pay attention to any signs of gum disease when you floss. Flossing should be painless, and your gums shouldn’t bleed. If your gums are bleeding and sensitive, consider visiting the dentist as soon as possible. We can diagnose your level of gum disease, and help you treat any underlying issues.
- Avoid smoking, tobacco, and illicit drugs. Studies show that cigarette smokers are twice as likely to develop gum disease than non-smokers. Smoking harms your circulatory system and blood flow, making it difficult for your gums to filter away bacteria. Not to mention, smoking dries your mouth out, which makes it a more friendly environment for bacteria. The longer you continue to smoke, the more likely you are to develop gum disease. Smoking also weakens your immune system, making it harder for your body to fight infection once your gum disease kicks in full force.
- Visit your dentist at least twice a year. A lot of the time people only go to the dentist when their mouth already hurts. At this point, it’s too late, and you’re probably already suffering from gum disease or a cavity. Going to your dentist for routine cleanings and exams will help you stay on top of your gum health, so you can catch gum disease before it gets severe.
4 Tips to Get in the Habit of Flossing For Your Gum Health
There’s a Mitch Hedberg comedy bit, where he’s talking about all of his friends who smoke. He says, “my friends who smoke always say ‘you don’t know how hard it is to stop!’… yes, I do. It’s as hard as it is to start flossing.”
Everybody remembers to brush at least once a day, but remembering to floss is difficult. When you’ve gone too long without flossing, it can be painful. Unlike brushing, it’s not instantly gratifying. You don’t feel or see any dramatic result from flossing. Unless, you have an annoying chunk of ribs stuck in between your two front teeth.
Here are some easy ways to get in the habit of flossing:
- Set reminders for yourself. If you don’t floss, because you constantly forget, find ways to remind yourself. Sometimes something as simple as writing yourself a sticky note that says, “Don’t forget to floss. Your gums will thank you later” and putting it on your bathroom mirror is enough of a trigger. You can also set alarms in your smart phone. Label your alarms something like, “Floss today, so you don’t look like a vampire after a large feast at your next dental appointment.” Sometimes you have to really push yourself into forming healthy habits.
- Make your floss accessible. Make sure you keep your floss in readily available areas. By having floss stashed in different areas of your life, you’ll be constantly reminded to do it. Some good places to keep your floss stashed are in your gym bag, glove compartment of your car, desk drawer at work, laptop bag, bathroom drawer, and purse. Even if you don’t remember to floss right before bed, you can remember throughout the day. Albeit, flossing before bed will help you the most.
- Focus on the end result. Remind yourself of the reasons why you’re flossing. Even though it can seem painstaking in the moment, it’s important to tell yourself how flossing will impact your oral health. Flossing daily stimulates your gums and cleans the crevices between your teeth out. Not to mention, the more you floss, the better you’ll get at it.
- Create rewards for yourself. Just as creating rewards for children can instill good behavior, so can creating rewards for yourself. Set a goal for yourself, and keep track of how many days you floss in a row. Once you reach your goal, reward yourself with a treat, like taking yourself out to eat at your favorite restaurant, buying yourself something you’ve had your eye on, or making time to do something you love.
Everyday, your mouth harbors little bits of food and bacteria. If you don’t floss daily, they will build up to create tartar and gum disease. Get in the habit of flossing to prevent gum disease and gum recession.
If you’re suffering from oral health issues or haven’t made it to the dentist lately, schedule an appointment today with Dr. Ray Hazen at 574-223-3121. Don’t forget to stay tuned to our blog for more important tips about dental health.
