Gum disease is a very common dental concern that we treat in our Virginia Beach dentist office. Many patients first notice the signs and symptoms of gum disease after they’ve experienced bleeding gums during or after brushing and flossing their teeth. Bleeding gums, also known as gingivitis, is a sign that your gums are collecting plaque and tartar, causing irritation. Here are some ways you can reduce your chances of developing gum disease.
Brush & Floss
Brushing and flossing are your smile’s main lines of defense when it comes to protecting your soft tissues from the harmful effects of gum disease. When you brush and floss, you are removing any food residue left on your smile following meals. The more often you brush and floss, the less time food residue will spend on your dental structures.
If left alone, the food residue will harden into plaque and tartar, which eventually leads to gum disease development. Patients should brush and floss at least twice a day, once in the morning and once at night.
Additionally, throughout the day, it’s a good idea to rinse your mouth out periodically or even chew sugar-free gum to reduce the amount of residue on your teeth after mid-day meals or snacks.
Reconsider Your Diet
Your diet directly impacts your dental health. Because your mouth comes into contact with everything you eat and drink, this means that your dietary choices are extremely important when looking to improve your overall dental health.
Patients should avoid snacks that are notoriously tough on their teeth. Snacks like sodas, candies, or potato chips can do a lot of harm to your smile because of their lack of essential vitamins and minerals in addition to their sugary, sticky residues. When meal planning, try to incorporate more smile-friendly snacks into your day.
Snacks like fruit smoothies, cheese boards, or even hummus and pita bread can help reduce the amount of harmful residue on your dental structures while also providing you with calcium and vitamin C, which are both essential to preventing gum disease.
Visit The Dentist Regularly
One of the best things you can do for your smile is to visit your dentist once every six months for routine preventative care. Even patients with the most thorough oral hygiene routines will benefit from seeing a professional dentist. During your routine appointments, we will thoroughly clean your teeth, removing any plaque or tartar that has began to develop. This stops gum disease in its tracks, giving your smile a fresh start.
Additionally, preventative care appointments allow our dentists the opportunity to catch minor issues early before they develop into major dental concerns. If you are looking for a dentist in Virginia Beach, consider scheduling an appointment with Coastal Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry. We offer comprehensive dental services and gum disease treatment near Norfolk, VA, Chesapeake, VA, or Virginia Beach areas.