Avoiding gum disease, as you know, is something that we feel very strongly that you do your best with. Why is that, you wonder? Furthermore, how exactly are you supposed to do that? You know that you should try hard to keep your smile healthy but as for minimizing the chances that you end up with gingivitis or a more advanced form of gum inflammation and infection, you’re at a bit of a loss for the particulars. To make your ability to prevent serious gingival problems and to keep yourself from experiencing the consequences, our Ankeny, IA team is more than pleased to shed some light on what you should be doing to achieve success in this area of smile protection.
If you are doing your best to avoid the development of gingivitis, which can quickly become a more advanced stage of gum disease, then your primary goal is removing plaque from your smile and doing so on a thorough and exceptionally consistent basis. Remember that the removal of plaque means limiting the time that your gum tissue is in contact with gum-disease-causing bacteria. It’s also means stopping plaque from hardening into tartar, which can happen in as little as just one to two days. When you’re cleaning your smile through your home care (brushing twice a day and flossing once a day) and cleanings with our practice (twice a year), you’re doing an excellent job!
Believe it or not, the simple act of smoking cigarettes greatly increases your chance of developing gingivitis, which can lead you toward a need for periodontal care. The good news here is that you can simply avoid cigarettes and other tobacco products or you can quit! In doing so, you give your body a much better ability to remain healthy, all tissues included.
Remember that part of the battle when it comes to preventing gum disease is remembering to keep an eye on your smile. This is something that you can do easily at home by contacting us if you see any signs of change with your gingival tissue, such as a color shift, inflammation, bleeding, or otherwise. You also accomplish this with your twice-a-year dental checkups, during which we can tell you if anything has changed or requires care, even when it’s something you don’t necessarily see on your own.
Talk with us about periodontal care if you discover that you require help with recovering the health of your gum tissue. Remember to see us for twice-annual checkups, so we may detect and treat gingivitis, should it occur. Find out if you’re making good choices by scheduling a visit with your Ankeny, IA dentist today! Contact Peddicord Family Dentistry to set up an appointment by calling 515-963-3339.
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