Natural Prevention of Gum Disease

May 20, 2012 by

There are no secrets for beautiful teeth and healthy gums other than a few basic rules of oral hygiene, starting with regular tooth brushing to help prevention of gum disease and tooth decay!

First things first, let us understand what periodontal disease means:

Periodontal diseases are inflammatory or degenerative diseases of the periodontium, which means all structures supporting the teeth.

Brushing teeth regularly and seriously is the best way to sustainably preserve healthy teeth.

Better Safe than Sorry

From gingivitis to periodontitis through the dreaded caries, the key word is prevention! Because generally, periodontal diseases are due to an accumulation of bacteria. And once infected, it is very difficult to get rid of gum problems. The most serious type of gum disease, such as periodontitis, can lead to tooth loss. Thus, to avoid being toothless, take things ahead. As stated so well in the old adage, better safe than sorry.

How to Prevent Gum Disease

Although they have been repeated time and again, it can not hurt to review again the importance of brushing teeth. Ideally, you should brush your teeth after every meal. However, twice a day is usually sufficient with brushing in the evening, after dinner, being the MOST IMPORTANT. During the night, the flow of saliva decreases which promotes the demineralization of the enamel. The risk of bacterial attack is thus increased at night.

How to brush your teeth?

While brushing your teeth it is important to:

  1. brush gently for 3 minutes.
  2. Brush the top and bottom set of teeth separately.
  3. Alternate vertical and rotary movements to brush teeth and gums.
  4. Never brush your teeth in the horizontal direction.
  5. Remember, the inside of the teeth and wisdom teeth sometimes harder to reach but should not be left unattended.

One Last Thing

There is one more thing you need to do, in addition to brushing your teeth well. The annual appointment at the dentist! That is the only person who can detect problems, nip the problem in the bud and take action necessary to prevent the situation from worsening. A visit to the dentist is less daunting than most of us imagine it to be. Shed your fears and visit your dentist regularly.

Filed Under: Prevention

Right Toothbrush to Prevent Gum Disease

May 17, 2012 by

Choosing the right type of toothbrush has got everything to do with prevention of periodontal disease. Here’s info on what type of toothbrush to prevent gum disease and how to maintain your toothbrushes.

Choosing a Tooth Brush for Healthy Gums

Hard toothbrushes do not allow a perfect brushing because they do not go perfectly between the teeth. Tooth brushes with soft bristles are recommended by Periodontal disease experts because they are gentler with your teeth and avoid damage like making your gums bleed.

Replacing your Toothbrush

Even with the best toothbrush in the world, what counts above all is to change it regularly, about four times a year. With regular use, bacteria accumulates between the bristles, which is far from hygienic. And bacteria is what we need to stay clear of, in order to prevent gum disease.

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Brushing Teeth Too Fast Causes Gum Disease

May 17, 2012 by

What causes gum disease is by no means a question to be answered in one word. Several factors get affect together or individually to cause gum disease. The way you brush is one of them.

Brushing your teeth is an art and one you must master if you wish to have healthy gums. Improper, too fast and inadequate brushing are major gum disease causes.

The Brushing Path

Teeth brushing must be methodical. Periodontists suggest that you choose a path and follow it carefully and without fail each time you brush teeth. For example, the upper jaw in the first, the left side before the right side, etc. ensures that no part is left out.

Brushing Time

It’s a matter of time: you have to brush for three minutes , ideally three times daily after meals and at the worst twice a day. Do not have that much time? Make up for it by brushing at night because saliva production decreases at night, so the acids from the digestion of sugars by bacteria are not neutralized. Cavities can occur more easily at night.

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5 Foods to Avoid to Prevent Gum Disease Naturally

May 17, 2012 by

Remember your Mom telling you not to eat too many sugary foods? She was absolutely right. Although the reason she probably gave you was that your teeth would get decayed, sugar and many other foods lead to gum disease as well. Other than sugar, acid is another enemy of healthy gums and teeth. Here are 4 foods that you should avoid to prevent gum disease naturally.

Sugar

The bacteria that live in your mouth feed mostly on sugars. They degrade into acids and, gradually, tooth enamel is attacked until a hole appears, it’s decay. This is the same bacteria that causes formation of plaque which is the root cause of periodontitis.

Citrus Juices

All citrus fruit juices (especially grapefruit juice) except apple and grape are very acidic and very sweet and cause gum disease. However, this should not be a reason to give up your glass of morning orange juice. Just remember to drink a glass of water before going to brush your teeth.

Packaged Foods and Snacks

Chips, Ketchup, Ready-to-eat meals etc. contain too much content of sugars and salts to make them taste better. Your gums end up paying the price. To avoid periodontal disease, you should stay away from packaged, prepared food as much as possible and brush every time you eat any of them.

Chocolates and Sweet Snacks all Day

We all know that chocolates, cookies, bars etc. have a high content of sugar. But it is okay to eat them up to 3 times a day as long as you are brushing your teeth well. However, if you are snacking on them all day, the brushing goes ineffective. Normally, when you take three meals a day, it limits the risk of tooth decay. On the one hand you can brush your teeth. Moreover, once the sugars are reduced, the saliva also plays a buffer role in lowering the acidity causing cavities. But when you eat too much sugar and too often, your system does not have time to react. The acidity levels get too high, which damages the tooth enamel and this favors the appearance of caries. That directly leads to tooth decay.

Sodas (including Diet Soda!)

Sodas and any bubbly drink (flavored teas, for example) are all sugary drinks that you should avoid to prevent gum disease. You would think a diet soda would be fine, since it does not contain sugar. But you are wrong there. Sugar or not, Sodas are acidic. In fact, the acidity of soda is equivalent to that of a lemon!

Keeping these overly sweet and acidic will be your first step to prevent gum disease naturally and to nip the problem in the bud. Combined with good brushing habits and other good dental hygiene that you can read about in our ‘Prevention’ category, you can prevent periodontal disease naturally and without having to spend big bucks on costly treatments later.

 

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Tooth Decay Symptoms, Prevention and Treatment

May 16, 2012 by

Tooth Decay is a Disease

The general population doesn’t normally look at tooth decay in this way, but dental caries are a form of disease.  Tooth decay is caused by cariogenic bacteria.  Residue from carbohydrates found in the human mouth provides an excellent breeding environment for cariogenic bacteria.  As cariogenic bacteria proliferate, they produce an adhesive substance that combines with other minerals present in the oral cavity to produce plaque which attaches tenaciously to the surface of the teeth.  When plaque is not removed, it hardens and becomes known as tartar.  The plaque and tartar build-up produces an acid that can damage the hard enamel surface of teeth and cause them to decay.

Good Dental Habits

Giving your teeth a good brushing at least twice a day can significantly reduce the growth of these harmful bacteria and the accumulation of plaque.  Although brushing is effective at removing plaque, it should be noted that plaque re-forms very quickly, usually within a 24-hour period.  For this reason, your brushing habits should be both frequent and consistent.

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Prevention of Gum Disease

May 16, 2012 by

Preventing Periodontal Disease

Most people brush their teeth every day but how about after every time you eat?  Do you take the time to floss?  Do you visit the dentist for a routine cleaning every four to six months?  If you are not taking these extra steps, you may be compromising the health. Here are some important steps you should take for prevention of gum disease.

Gingivitis and Periodontitis

Periodontal disease starts out as gingivitis.  Characterized by red and swollen gums that may have a tendency to bleed easily, gingivitis should not be ignored as it can quickly lead to a much more serious condition.

Left untreated, gingivitis will progress to periodontitis.  This condition develops when pockets of plaque around the base of the teeth become inundated with cariogenic bacteria causing severe inflammation and the eventual erosion of the bone support that holds the teeth in place.

Symptoms of Periodontal Disease

Symptoms of periodontitis include extremely swollen and painful gums that are bright red and tender.  Gums may also recede making the teeth look larger than normal.  Bad breath and a bad taste in the mouth usually accompany periodontal disease and, in the most serious cases, pus pockets can develop between the teeth.  Not only does periodontal disease cause tooth loss, but it is also associated with an increased risk of cardiac disease and stroke, respiratory complications, and diabetes.

Prevention of Gum Disease

The good news is that gum disease in the form of gingivitis and periodontitis, can be largely prevented.  Start by implementing good oral hygiene habits.  Brushing and flossing should be done after every meal to remove bacteria and the food residue that they feed upon.  In addition, don’t forget to see your dentist at least twice every year for a professional evaluation and dental cleaning.

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