Does brushing your teeth daily mean that your teeth are sparkling clean? There are actually many hard-to-reach spots in the mouth which renders the toothbrush useless! Some people are accustomed to using dental floss for places in between teeth, while some prefer using mouthwash; but which method can prevent periodontal disease? If you don’t want to lose all your teeth in your old age, pay attention on how to maintain oral hygiene!
What is periodontal disease?
Periodontal diseases are mainly the result of infections and inflammation of the gums and bone that surround and support the teeth. If left untreated, it might lead to periodontitis, a more serious form of periodontal disease, where the gums pull away from the tooth, bone can be lost, and the teeth may loosen or even fall out.
Look out for the below warning signs:
- Bad breath or bad taste that won’t go away
- Red or swollen gums
- Tender or bleeding gums
- Painful chewing
- Loose teeth
- Sensitive teeth
- Gums that have pulled away from your teeth
- Any change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite
- Any change in the fit of partial dentures
One small change in your routine can help prevent periodontal diseases
Two words to live by: floss everyday! With good oral hygiene and regular professional cleaning, you can significantly lower the risk of periodontal diseases. You should also see a dentist at least once a year for checkups, or more frequently if you have any of the symptoms mentioned above.
Prevent periodontal disease by making use of mirrors
There are many ways to effectively prevent periodontal disease, one of the ways is to simply take a good look in the mirror! Pay more attention to the gaps between your teeth because it is easy for filth to accumulate, which in turn leads to the growth of oral bacteria. But fear not, you can use dental floss to remove any filth from between your teeth. However, when you floss for the first few times, there is a high chance of bleeding, indicating that your gum is already inflamed and may need to be treated by your dentist.
Stay away from any homemade dental cosmetic procedures
In recent years, many teeth whitening devices with blue light have been introduced for home use. These devices generally use hydroxide gels and light-emitting devices to produce oxidation-reduction effects to make teeth brighter. However, the composition and concentration of hydroxide in the gel is unstable and may cause damage to the teeth, resulting in gum recession, inflammation of the flesh, and in severe cases, periodontal disease, leaving the foot of the tooth exposed.
The importance of flossing
Most of the time, using a toothbrush alone does not remove plaque thoroughly, and over time, bacteria can easily grow on your teeth. Flossing can effectively remove plaque and prevent periodontal disease. The best way to prevent gum inflammation is to use a toothbrush and floss together. It is recommended that you visit your dentist regularly to get rid of any stains that cannot be cleaned on a regular basis.
Since dental care is not covered by general insurance or company medical insurance, be sure to protect your teeth from largely preventable dental diseases by upholding high standard of oral hygiene!