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How To Take Good Care Of Your Gums

Do you have gum disease? Or are you developing gum problems gradually over time? All too often, we pay plenty of attention to tooth health but forget all about our gums – which are no less important to a healthy smile.
There are 3 key elements in taking good care of your gums for life: preventative measures, early diagnosis of gum problems, and quick, effective periodontal treatment to restore gum health when it is compromised.

Preventing Gum Disease Day By Day
Developing gum disease can be partly based on hereditary predisposition, but most of its common causes are preventable. The biggest impact you can have against gum disease is through your daily oral health regimen.

Here are the top 5 tips for preventing gum deterioration:

  1. Brush gently with a soft-bristled brush after each meal. Be sure to brush over your gums where they connect to your teeth.
  2. Floss carefully in your interdental spaces. Accumulation of particles there can lead to development of periodontal bacterial pockets.
  3. Flush out your mouth with an antiseptic mouth wash after brushing/flossing.
  4. Maintain a healthy diet high in nutrients and low in sugar and acids. Also, avoid tobacco products and excessive use of alcoholic beverages.
  5. See your periodontist for an annual “gum checkup” at least once a year.

Catching Gum Problems As Early As Possible
Even when you do all you can to prevent gum disease, it is possible for gum health to decline over the years. The elderly are at a higher risk, as are children – but everyone needs to be on the lookout for symptoms of gum disease.

Look for these common symptoms of periodontal disease and see a periodontist without delay if you suspect your gum health is deteriorating:

  • Your gums frequently bleed after brushing and flossing or even at other times like when chewing gum or eating hard foods like apples or raw carrots.
  • Your gum tissue is red, swollen, itchy, or excessively tender to the touch.
  • You have chronic bad breath and an unpleasant taste in your mouth.
  • You notice your gum line is receding, exposing tooth roots and making your teeth look bigger. This also can lead to tooth hypersensitivity.
  • Gums are painful and you see (bacteria-filled) pockets extending below the gum line.
  • Teeth are loose, seem to easily shift, or ready to fall out. You notice changes in the way your teeth bite down and feel while you chew/speak.

Gum Restoration & Laser Periodontal Treatment
Prevention and diagnosis are the first two steps, but if you do end up with gingivitis or periodontitis, then it’s time to immediately move on getting the right treatment.

Laser periodontal treatment is the most advanced form of gum disease treatment available today. It uses LANAP lasers that are amazingly precise, thorough, and low-pain. The procedure can be completed in a single sitting, with long-lasting results. And healing is so fast that most people are back to work after only 24 hours’ rest.

But whether you choose laser periodontal treatment, root planing and scaling, gum flap surgery, PST grafts, or another gum restoration therapy, be sure you put yourself into the hands of an experienced, trusted local periodontist like Dr. Stuart Beauchamp of Ormond Beach Periodontics & Implant Dentistry.

General dentists can’t handle all of the procedures that periodontists can. Periodontists are focused on gum health, dental implants, and related matters. To set up a periodontal appointment in Central Florida, contact Ormond Beach Periodontics today!

Located in Beautiful Ormond Beach

Ormond Beach Periodontics and Implant Dentistry is conveniently located off of Nova Road in Ormond Beach, Florida. We help seniors, adults, and teenagers smile with confidence.