5 Ways to Prevent Gum Diseases
Dr. B. Kanagasabapathy
[M.D.S. (Ortho), Fellow ICOI]
The primary reason for gum disease is Plaques. When the foods containing sugars and starch e.g. milk, candy, soft drinks, and cakes left on the teeth, plaques will be developed. Plaque can also accumulate under the gum on the tooth roots and damages the bone that supports teeth.
Here are the five ways to prevent Gum disease
1) Avoid sugary foods
Candies that are sticky contain a huge amount of sugars. The bad bacteria in your mouth even feed on them when you feed on these candies. This results in the faster formation of plaques on your teeth. Sugar packed sodas and fruit juices consist of phosphoric and citric acid content that stains your teeth and also cause erosion to tooth enamel.
Avoiding alcohol also boosts your oral as well as dental health and prevents the risk of gum diseases.
If you are eating sugary candies, then eat it during the meals. When you eat candies during meals, the production of saliva increases and eliminate acid in mouth. They also wash away food particles easily.
2) Brush gently twice a day and floss
Plaques must be removed to prevent cavities. Plaques are the transparent bacterial layer covering the teeth. Hence brushing twice a day and flossing once a day helps in removing hidden bacteria and stimulates the gums. Thus your teeth will be healthier and gum disease is prevented.
Use toothpaste that contains fluoride and brush for two to three minutes. You should brush after every meal in a circular motion. Follow these brushing techniques for the best results. Change your toothbrush after three or four months or if brush is frayed earlier. If you are very dedicated to take care of your oral health, buy an electric toothbrush as they perform better than a manual toothbrush.
Bacteria may also present in your tongue leading to bad breath. So, gently scrub your tongue using a soft-bristled toothbrush.
3) Rinse twice a day with a therapeutic mouthwash
A therapeutic mouthwash helps in avoiding gum problems and reduces plaques. The plaques and tartars that are hidden will be wiped off by a powerful rinse. Rinsing your mouth with a mouthwash removes food particles from your teeth and gums.
Go for dental checkups every six months after even if you feel your teeth and gums are healthy. Get advice from your dentist about the usage of mouthwash. Do not use chlorhexidine mouth wash daily as it stains your teeth to brown color.
Your dentist will help you to choose the mouthwash that suits you and about its proper usage.
4) A healthy, balanced diet is necessary
Add foods that have antibacterial properties. Red, white or green onions have antibacterial properties that protect your gums. Hence, add additional onions to your meals.
Eat more amounts of vitamin C rich foods such as spinach, broccoli, sweet potatoes red and green bell peppers, etc., they reduce inflammation and protect your gum from swelling and infection.
Foods that are rich in omega 3s such as nuts, sesame seeds, salmon fish, herring and mackerel, etc., also have anti-inflammatory properties. They contain a high amount of nutrients.
Chicken and grass-fed beef contain collagen which helps fight against gum diseases.
Drinking green tea is highly beneficial for oral health as they contain Catechins (an antioxidant). They fight against gum disease and protects from periodontal diseases.
5) Control smoking or don’t smoke
When you smoke the saliva secreted will be stopped and creates an easy way for bacteria to stick easily on gums and teeth. Plaques will be developed on teeth and along the gum line. When these plaques are not removed, it will develop into a substance called tartar. These tartars are very difficult to remove as they are hard. The risk of gum disease for smokers is three to six times higher than non-smokers.
They restrict blood flow by causing infection and affects gums easily. Smokers have six percent more chance to affect from oral cancer than non-smokers. Their color of the teeth will be changed to yellow and bad breath is created easily.
To recover from bad breath oil pulling can be done. Use Coconut oil as it has anti-inflammatory properties and rich antioxidants that eliminate bad bacteria in your mouth easily.
Protect your gums by keeping it stronger and stay healthy!
