No one wants to hear they have gum disease, but many times we have no idea how we got it. After all, we are on top of our dental game every day. But what we fail to recognize is that our daily lifestyle habits could be the main cause of our periodontal disease. Things like drinking coffee can make our mouths more susceptible to it. Let’s take a look at how we can help prevent gum disease from getting worse, and more painful, while we wait for your next dental appointment:
Daily brushing. Brushing your teeth on a regular basis is one of the biggest lines of defense against periodontal disease in the first place. Bacteria that sit on your teeth after long periods of time create havoc on your gums. Drinking coffee dehydrates our mouths, preventing saliva production and saliva is our natural defense against harmful bacteria.
Flossing. Floss regularly to clean the spaces between your teeth in which brushing cannot reach. If you don’t remove plaque buildup found between your teeth, it hardens into something known as tartar, which requires a more extensive form of cleaning.
Rinsing. After brushing and flossing, rinse your mouth with an antibacterial mouthwash that helps destroy bacteria left over by the prior two forms of cleaning.
If you find your mouth to be in pain due to the swelling of the gums, try a lifestyle change. Reducing your coffee intake and stress helps your oral health because your immune system is less compromised when you’re relaxed. DIY tip: Using water infused with salt draws out infection in your swollen gums.
If you have questions or concerns regarding gum disease prevention, contact Dr. Anthony Yamada, DDS at 310-546-2595 to schedule a consultation today, or visit www.anthonyyamadadds.com for additional information.
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