Gum Care Month
September is National Gum Care Month, which means focusing on everything gums related, which is part of the foundation for keeping your teeth healthy. If your gums are not healthy, it can affect the bone that surrounds and supports the teeth, holding them in place. Did you know you can lose teeth without ever getting a cavity? Studies show that 47.2% of adults aged 30 years and older have some form of periodontal disease or gum disease. There are many ways to prevent gum disease. You can start by using simple aids at home and keeping up with your preventative care visits.
Aids to Prevent Gum Disease
There are so many dental products out on the market these days. Just walking down the dental aisle in the grocery store can become overwhelming. There are certain dental aids that we recommend most for our patients that can help cut down on gingivitis, or even worse – gum disease.
Soft-Picks are a great tool to use to help keep the gums healthy. They look like a toothpick but have little rubber bristles that help stimulate the gum when you slide in between the teeth. They grab plaque and food debris and help disrupt the plaque bacteria that form colonies in areas your toothbrush may not reach. They are actually made by the brand GUM and can be found at your local grocery or retail store. They are typically green with a white handle. We have sample packs with coupons we can give you the next time you are in.
Dental floss is another savior when it comes to preventing gum disease. It works by sliding underneath the gum tissue to remove any plaque that has settled down between the tooth and gum that the toothbrush bristles cannot access. Dental floss is like a gum disease insurance policy. If you use it once a day, you will significantly decrease your chances of getting gingivitis or gum disease. The difference between these two is this: gingivitis is completely reversible, while gum disease is not. If gingivitis goes untreated, it can turn into gum disease that then affects the bone around the teeth, or supporting structure, as mentioned above. Once a person has gum disease, it can never go away. You can’t grow back the bone that was lost, but rather maintain what is left to prevent any further damage.
A Waterpik is also a great option for gum care if you hate flossing. With pressurized air and water, a Waterpik helps disturb the plaque bacteria below the gumline and flush it out. At Dental Reflections Dublin, we also recommend these to our patients quite often to help keep the gum tissues healthy.
Regular Dental Checkups
By maintaining your preventive care and seeing your dentist at least twice a year, you can also decrease your chances of developing gum disease. Each visit, your hygienist will use a small measuring tool called a probe that will measure the space between your tooth and gum tissue to check the overall health. This shows us if you are starting to develop early signs, which helps us recommend a special treatment plan or homework for you to prevent inflammation from turning into permanent destruction. That’s why seeing your Dublin, Ohio dentist for professional cleanings is so important. Studies show there was a 31% decrease in dental costs over five years for patients who received preventive care. For all your dental care needs, contact Dental Reflections Dublin.
