Gum disease can start out as a minor issue, but it can quickly develop into a serious problem. In the early stages, gum disease can cause problems such as redness, swelling, and bleeding. Advanced gum disease can cause more severe issues such as pain, secondary infections, receding gums, and tooth loss. Fortunately, there are some simple steps that can help you prevent gum disease. Four simple steps that will help you prevent gum disease include going to your routine dental appointments, brushing consistently, flossing daily, and ditching bad habits. 

Go to your routine dental appointments

During your routine dental appointments your dentist will assess the condition of your gums. Your dentist will be able to tell if there are any warning signs of gum disease present and advise you on steps to stop the progression. In addition, during your routine dental appointments your teeth get a deep cleaning and flossing. This process helps remove harmful bacteria and tartar that can lead to gum disease.

Brush consistently

Brushing consistently is a simple step that can help you prevent gum disease. Brushing twice per day removes food particles and bacteria that can lead to issues with your gums. This daily habit can minimize the buildup of plaque and tartar and ultimately help prevent gum disease.

Floss daily

Flossing is an important element of preventing gum disease. The floss can get to areas of your teeth that brushing will not reach – such as between them and at the gumline. It is easy to forget about flossing if you do not make it a consistent part of your oral care routine. Making flossing a permanent part of your oral hygiene routine is a simple step that can help prevent gum disease.

Ditch bad habits

There are some bad habits that increase your chances of developing gum disease. Eating a poor diet and smoking are two bad habits that make developing serious gum disease much more likely. Getting rid of these bad habits probably will not be easy. But you will notice a big difference in your oral and overall health if you can eliminate them from your life.

Mild gum disease is treatable and can often be cured with a few small changes in your oral care routine. Advanced gum disease is also treatable but generally requires the intervention of your dentist. The procedures for treating advanced gum disease are much more involved than the steps for treating the milder form. Ultimately, however, prevention is preferable to treatment. If you follow the simple steps outlined above, you can prevent gum disease and avoid dealing with any type of treatment option for the condition. Schedule an appointment with Coral West Dental today to have the current condition of your gums assessed. Once you know the current condition of your gums, you can move forward with disease prevention or treatment options.