The best
means of preventing gum disease is good dental hygiene, including
regular brushing and flossing of your teeth, and periodic professional
cleaning to prevent buildup of plaque and tartar.
Follow
these tips to keep your gums healthy:
-
Choose the
right toothbrush.
Select a brush with soft, end-rounded or polished bristles, small
enough to clean your back teeth as well as your front teeth, and
that has been approved by your dentist or the American Dental
Association.
-
Buy
fluoride toothpaste.
Fluoride toothpaste helps remove plaque while protecting against
cavities.
-
Brush at
least twice daily.
Do your brushing just before bedtime and again each morning. During
sleep, saliva flow lessens and gives bacteria a chance to multiply.
-
Brush
properly.
To clean outer surfaces of your teeth and gums, use short,
back-and-forth, then up-and-down strokes. Use vertical strokes to
clean inner surfaces. Include both teeth and gums.
-
Angle your
brush.
To clean the junction between your teeth and gums, hold your brush
at a 45-degree angle to your teeth. This allows the bristles to
clean the groove between your gums and your teeth.
-
Floss
daily.
Hold the floss taut and bent around each tooth in a C shape,
scraping up and down each side of each tooth. Each stroke should go
slightly below your gumline until you feel resistance. Flossing
removes plaque between your teeth and helps massage your gums.
Unwaxed floss works as well as waxed floss.
In
addition to your daily oral hygiene, visit your dentist at least
annually for a routine cleaning and a dental checkup. If you're at
increased risk of gum disease, daily removal of plaque is particularly
essential. You may also need more frequent professional cleanings. Ask
your dentist for recommendations.
