How to Prevent Gum Disease

Gum Disease Prevention Dentists Grand Rapids, MI

Gum disease has been medically linked to serious medical conditions such as heart disease or even stroke. Unfortunately, many patients ignore the signs and symptoms of gum disease until they already have it.

Symptoms of Gum Disease

The symptoms of gum disease can be subtle, which means many people don’t seek dental care until the disease is in its advanced stages. Here are a few symptoms to look out for:

  • Sore gums
  • Bleeding gums
  • Receding gums
  • Pain when chewing
  • Bad breath
  • Tooth loss

Bleeding and sore gums are not the norm! If you start seeing any of these symptoms, contact our dentist right away. Treatments for gum disease vary from case to case—from a simple deep cleaning to medication or surgery. The sooner you come in to see us, the faster we can help.

Stages of Gum Disease

There are three main stages of gum disease.

  • Gingivitis: Gingivitis occurs when your gums become irritated by dental plaque. You may notice swelling, soreness, or bleeding when you brush your teeth. At this stage, gum disease is still reversible.
  • Periodontitis: By this point, your gum disease can no longer be cured, only managed. Our dentist can help you come up with a plan to keep your gum disease from progressing further.
  • Advanced gum disease: Advanced gum disease can cause permanent damage to the bone and tissue in your mouth, even causing teeth to fall out in some cases. Serious treatment is necessary to get this condition under control.

Sensitive, swollen, or bleeding gums can all be signs of gum disease, and it’s important to get those checked out. However, our Grand Rapids, MI gum disease dentists have some tips to prevent gum disease before it strikes. Here are 6 healthy habits to adopt in order to keep gum disease at bay.

1. Oral Care

Although this may seem obvious, good oral care is crucial for healthy gums. Brushing your teeth is not enough—especially when it comes to gum disease. You should add flossing to your routine to reduce the risk of plaque building up and damaging your gums. When flossing, be sure to get up and under your gums to remove any plaque that’s hiding there.

Using an antimicrobial mouthwash low in alcohol can also be very beneficial to your oral health. Gingivitis treatment can be as simple as scheduling a dentist teeth cleaning and practicing good oral hygiene.

2. Vitamin C

Vitamin C deficiency is one of the leading causes of gum disease. Including more Vitamin C in your diet not only helps prevent gum disease, but can also help treat any symptoms you might have. Vitamin C has healing properties that can stop your gums from swelling or bleeding while stabilizing loose teeth.

3. Nutrition

Nothing helps more in preventing gum disease than maintaining a healthy diet. Be sure to avoid sugary foods and drinks as they lead to tooth decay and gum damage.

Eating a balanced and nutritious diet filled with vitamins and minerals boosts your immunity and helps ward off many diseases, including gum disease. Try incorporating foods that are high in collagen, beta carotene, and omega-3s for best results.

4. Hydration

Staying hydrated is necessary in preventing gum disease, as well as promoting overall health. Drinking plenty of water produces more saliva which helps fight off bacteria that can cause gum infection.

5. Avoid Tobacco

Smoking cigarettes and using tobacco products has been known to cause countless health issues, especially gum disease. Tobacco products are very harmful to your gums and should be avoided at all costs.

Even other tobacco sources, such as chewing tobacco, cigars, and e-cigarettes, are harmful to your gums. It’s best to steer clear of tobacco products altogether if you want healthy teeth and gums.

6. Teeth Cleanings

Seeing our Grand Rapids dentists regularly cannot be stressed enough. A routine teeth cleaning can help prevent gum disease by removing plaque hiding in between teeth and along the gum line. During your dental cleaning, our dentists will also be able to spot signs of gum disease like bleeding gums.

Call Our Office Today!

Our gum disease dentists in Grand Rapids, MI have years of experience with helping patients fight periodontal disease. To request an appointment with Bander Dental Group, give our office a call at (616) 949-5980.