Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, is a gum infection which damages the soft tissues in your mouth. It is so common that 7 out of 10 Canadians will develop gum disease at some point in their lifetime. When left without treatment, gum disease can lead to tooth loss, severe pain, and damage to the jawbone. Luckily, the disease is largely preventable if you follow proper oral hygiene practices such as brushing, flossing, and regular dental checkups!
Brushing Your Teeth
If you want to keep oral health problems, including periodontal disease, at bay, then be sure to include brushing your teeth as part of your daily routine. Aim to brush at least twice daily, and for a minimum of two minutes for thorough cleaning. For added benefits, you can brush after your midday meal, as Dr. Robert Cappel, Dr. Natalie Wong, and the rest of our team at Dentistry in Motion recommend.
Brush all the exposed teeth surfaces well. Begin with the front (facing out), then the back (facing in), before finishing with the chewing surface. It helps if you divide your mouth mentally into quadrants, upper right, upper left, bottom right, bottom left, and allocate 30 seconds to brush each quadrant.
Flossing
Flossing helps you clean the surfaces that are between two teeth since they are unreachable by the toothbrush. In an ideal world, you should floss after every meal, but that may not be possible. Most people floss once a day, which is okay. We recommend that when flossing, you should slide the floss between your teeth, wrap it into a “C” shape around the base of your tooth and gently under the gumline. Wipe the tooth from base to tip two or three times. Repeat this process until all your teeth are flossed.
Visit Your Dentist Biannually
It’s important to visit your dentist biannually to catch signs of periodontal disease early on. Early detection of periodontal disease is key to preventing it from becoming more severe and irreversible later on. At this point, gum disease can be fixed by maintaining a proper oral hygiene routine. A yearly comprehensive periodontal evaluation (CPE) with a professional periodontist is also recommended in eliminating or avoiding periodontal disease.
Contact Our Team
If it’s time to book your next biannual appointment, please contact our team! The best way to schedule your appointment is to email us at [email protected] or fill out our contact form on our website. We are currently booking routine appointments for both new and existing patients as well as professional teeth whitening, Invisalign, dental implants and more!