3 Steps to Preventing Gum Disease

Did you know that over three-quarters of Americans have some sort of gum disease? Don’t want to become one of the numbers? Here are three things you can do:

1. Daily Dental Brushing and Flossing

In most cases, you can avoid gum disease like gingivitis and periodontitis by following good dental care for gums and teeth at home. That includes brushing twice a day, and flossing at least once a day. You might also want to consider getting an electric toothbrush as some Boise dentists think they make good teeth and gum health easier.

2. Avoiding Foods and Substances Associated with Gum Disease

What you eat can also affect your chances of getting gum disease. Smoking or chewing tobacco, for example, can highly increase your risk of gum disease. Poor nutrition also has an effect on gum disease, and it’s not just the sugary foods. An unbalanced diet lowers your immune system, and a lower immune system puts you at a higher risk of gum disease.

3. Regular Boise Teeth Cleaning and Other Preventative Appointments

As a part of your preventative health, many dental insurance companies include an annual or semiannual teeth cleaning appointment. During this appointment, our Boise dentists and other dental staff will give your teeth and gums and nice and deep clean, rooting out any hiding bacteria and cutting short any gingivitis or gum disease that was trying to start. By regularly keeping up with these appointments, we can work together to keep your mouth clean and healthy.

During these cleaning appointments, we also check for gum disease, cavities, and a list of other issues. By keeping these preventative appointments, you can catch problems—including gum disease—early.

It can be hard to keep up with your Boise dental and gum health—do you have a routine or trick that helps you keep up with your teeth and gum health?