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Worried About Gum Disease? 4 Easy Methods To Keep Your Teeth And Gums Healthy

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If you're worried about gum disease, you should be. Gum disease is the leading cause of premature tooth loss in adults. Not only that, but if left untreated, gum disease can lead to serious health problems such as heart disease and strokes. Luckily, gum disease doesn't have to cause tooth loss. Here are four steps you can take to prevent gum disease.

Don't Let Your Toothbrush Wear Out

If you're brushing and flossing your teeth at least twice a day, you're on the right track to preventing premature tooth loss associated with gum disease. Unfortunately, if you're using worn-out toothbrushes, your effort isn't being as effective as it could be. To keep your teeth and gums as healthy as possible, you should use pay attention to your toothbrush. Once the bristles are worn out, they can't remove food particles and plaque effectively.  For best results, you should buy a new toothbrush as soon as the bristles look old and worn out. A good rule of thumb is to switch toothbrushes at least once every three months.

Keep Your Mouth Moist

If you suffer from dry mouth, you may have bacteria hiding between your teeth and below the gum line. This is because the saliva you need to wash away the bacteria isn't present. To keep your mouth healthy, and prevent gum disease, you need to increase your saliva production. Some of the ways you can do that include:

  • Drinking plenty of water throughout the day
  • Chewing sugar-free gum
  • Using sugarless lozenges

Eat More Crunchy Vegetables

You might not realize this, but you can keep your gums healthy by increasing your consumption of crunchy vegetables. Foods such as celery and carrots act like natural toothbrushes by removing plaque from the surface of your teeth. These foods also stimulate your gums and help improve circulation around your roots. For maximum protection, you should snack on crunchy vegetables at least once a day.

Stop Smoking

If you smoke, you're increasing your likelihood of developing gum disease. In fact, according to research, smoking is a major cause of gum disease. To protect your gums, and prevent premature tooth loss, you should quit smoking as soon as possible. If you're having trouble quitting, talk to your dentist about a smoking cessation program.

If you're worried about gum disease, and premature tooth loss, the tips provided here will help you keep your teeth and gums healthy. For questions or concerns regarding gum disease, be sure to speak to a dentist like Kuban David S DDS.


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