Gum Disease

Gum Disease Symtoms, Care, Prevention

Prevent Gum Disease

Healthy lifestyle with good oral wellbeing is critical in averting gum disease. Regular and efficient mouth washing and tooth brushing are efficient only over and faintly below the gum line. Once periodontal disease erupts, more intensive treatments will become necessary.

Dental Attitude

Practice good dental attitudes:

· Brush the teeth twice a day, once each in the daytime and before bedtime, by fluoride toothpaste. Cleanse all sides of the incisors besides brushing the tongue. Plaque on tongue can lead to bad odor and is an ideal surroundings for microbes. If brushing is impossible, chew sugar-free gum, particularly one with xylitol.

· Try an electric toothbrush having a rotating and oscillating (back-and-forth) action. This brush type is better than a normal toothbrush in removing plaque. Look for the one that has the ADA Seal of Acceptance.

· Use an antiseptic mouthwash like fluoride or Listerine or antiplaque mouthwash.

· Floss at least once every day. Any type of floss can work, hence choose a desired type. Curl the floss around each incisor into a U-shape, and softly slip it under the gum line. Move the floss firmly up and down several times for scraping the plaque.

· Use disclosing tablets once in a while to see if the brushing is effective. Disclosing tablets are chewable and will stain any plaque left on the incisor after brushing. They can be obtained at most drugstores.

· See the dental specialist regularly as advised to have your incisors rinsed and examined.

If the gums bleed while brushing or flossing, the bleeding should cease as the gums become healthier and tighter to the incisors. However, bleeding gums can also be a sign of gum disease and should be notified to the dentist.

Dietary Changes

It is imperative to decrease both the mass besides particularly the regularity of sugar intake. Shun sugar-rich snacks and drinks. Eat sugar-content foodstuffs with meals, ideally followed by brushing. Since fruit juices can too cause dental erosion in children, parents should highlight milk and water.

Quit Smoking

Tobacco smoking has been found to play a considerable role in over half the incidences of chronic periodontal disease. Quitting smoking is a most important step toward regaining periodontal health.

Fluoride Treatments

Fluoride therapy in children has aided to justify the decline in periodontal disease in adults. Since fluoride arrests decompose, back molars, which keep the incisors in place, are spared, and are thus less vulnerable to microbes. Even before first eruption of incisors, babies' gums should be cleaned with a bit of gauze bearing a dab of fluoride toothpaste. Supplementation with fluoride tablets or drops may be advisable for children of 6 months or older who drink unfluoridated water or who are at threat of dental illness. A prescription from the child's specialist or dental specialist is required.

Some dentists advises a fluoride gel for adult patients who are still at threat for dental decompose or sensitiveness, but extra fluoride is normally unnecessary for adults using fluoride toothpaste.


Dental Examinations

Periodontitis occurs silently. People with the disease hardly experience any pain and may not even be aware of the problem. A periodontal examination by a general dental specialist once or twice a year may reveal any incipient or progressive problems. A full mouth x-rays is advised every 2-3 years. This will alert the dental physician of early bone loss and other disorders of the oral cavity.

Dental specialists often perform Periodontal Screening and Recording (PSR) using a probe to gauge gum pockets. Earlier performed only by periodontists, this method is now encouraged as part of a regular tooth probe. The dental physician will recognize any area where pocket deepening has taken place, where the health of the gingiva shows up compromised, and where there is undue mobility of incisors. It is the responsibility of the dentist to recognize periodontal disease and inform the patient. If the condition is serious, the dental physician may refer the patient to a periodontist.