Periodontal disease can negatively impact your oral health and your overall physical health. Today, our Chilliwack dentists offer tips on how to prevent periodontal disease from affecting your smile.
How Periodontitis Affects Your Oral Health
Periodontitis (commonly called gum disease) is a progressive condition that gradually invades your gums. Because it is typically painless in its early stages (gingivitis), it can easily evolve to an advanced stage before you become aware of any problems.
Plaque collects on your teeth and along the gum line, then hardens into a rough, porous deposit referred to as tartar or calculus. Pockets form between the teeth and irritated gums, and bacteria collect here, which can lead to other health problems such as cardiovascular disease. Once hardened, only your dentist will have the tools to remove plaque.
Once periodontitis reaches more advanced stages it can lead to loss of bone structure and deterioration of gums - eventually even tooth loss. In fact, gum disease is one of the most common causes of tooth loss in adults.
That’s why removing plaque with a rigorous daily hygiene routine of brushing and flossing as well as attending regular dental hygiene appointments are key for prevention – and for maintaining your oral health.
Tips To Prevent Periodontitis
There are also some less obvious tips that may help you avoid gum disease or reduce your risk of getting it. You may want to:
Be aware of how your medications affect your oral health. Certain medications can contribute to and aggravate gum disease, including antidepressants, heart medicines and oral contraceptives.
Increase your consumption of vitamins A and C, which are part of a healthy diet that can help prevent periodontitis. Conversely, avoid eating sugary and starchy foods, which allow plaque to build.
Have dental issues addressed as soon as you begin to notice symptoms. Correct dental problems or oral health issues such as teeth grinding, misaligned or crowded teeth. It can be more challenging to properly clean teeth that aren’t properly spaced, thus providing room for plaque to grow and thrive.
Gently massage your gums. Along with brushing for two minutes twice a day and flossing once daily, show your gums some love by gently massaging them to help increase blood flow to the area.
Use fluoride toothpaste. This key ingredient removes the buildup of plaque bacteria along the gum line without irritating gums.
Quit smoking. Smoking is not only strongly associated with the onset of gum disease, but it also makes it more difficult for your gums to heal once they’re damaged, as smoking weakens the immune system.
Understand your oral health risks. Whether genetics, diet, age, smoking or other factors make you more susceptible to periodontitis, knowledge is power. Stay informed to help keep your teeth and gums healthy.
Bonus: Ask your dentist about periodontal disease treatment. The earlier your dentist can detect periodontitis (if you do get it), the better. That's because it's easier to treat gum disease in its earlier stages than when it has advanced to the point that you start to lose teeth or jaw bone tissue. Depending on how far the disease has progressed and its severity, there are surgical and non-surgical options for treatment.
Regular oral hygiene - and reducing your personal risk factors - will go a long way in the fight to prevent gum disease. Our gums are as important as our teeth when it comes to our oral health, so be sure not to neglect them.