Bleeding gums, swelling and pain: these are all symptoms, which could be prevented with good oral hygiene and healthy eating. Gum disease is the biggest threat to adult oral health in the UK and we are on hand to help you keep those scary symptoms at bay.
Preventing gum disease
Gum disease is the most common cause of premature tooth loss; however, it can be prevented very easily. The best way of keeping your gums healthy is to adopt and maintain a good daily oral hygiene routine, which prevents the formation of plaque. Plaque is a sticky film which forms when saliva and food debris combines with bacteria; this is the most dangerous risk factor for gum disease and decay.
Daily brushing, morning and evening, and flossing help to keep the mouth clean and free from dangerous bacteria. Ideally, you should spend 2-3 minutes each morning and evening brushing your teeth, taking care to cover every surface of each individual tooth and brushing along the gum line. Avoid brushing too vigorously, as this could harm your tooth enamel and use a brush with soft bristles to avoid harming the gums.
Flossing is also really important for protecting against gum disease. Flossing removes plaque from the spaces between the teeth and the gum line, which are hard to clean with a brush. You only need to spend a couple of minutes flossing per day and this will make a massive difference to your oral health.
Diet and gum disease
Your diet also has a major impact on your oral health and avoiding certain foods helps to reduce your risk of gum disease; these foods include sugary and acidic products. Acidic foods damage the tooth enamel, while sugary foods cause bacteria to produce acids, which cause the gums to become irritated.
