If you suffer from periodontal disease (gum disease) you may end up losing your teeth either by having them extracted (taken out) or have them eventually become mobile due to the loss of bone which holds the teeth into place, as a result of developing gum disease.
Gum disease comes with a many other significant issues apart from losing teeth, such as suffering from bad breath (halitosis), sore/sensitive gums and the development of an infection causing bleeding, swelling and throbbing toothaches and lead to the development of an abscess. There are other symptoms that you may get but not everyone with periodontal disease will experience the same symptoms or even show any symptoms at all until their gum disease has reached an advanced stage.
Many people find it hard to make the time to treat this and maintain their gum disease outside of a dental practice due to a busy lifestyle with work and even day to day life getting in the way.
These are a few of many ways which can help you maintain your gum disease while you have a busy life style:
Brush right:
You can help to keep the teeth and gums clean by brushing twice a day, once in the morning and once before sleeping. Some people like to brush in between meals or an extra once daily or use a fluoride mouthwash to give their teeth extra protection from bacteria.
Brushing at the gum line:
The gum line is where the plaque forms and where the gingivitis starts, which is the initial irritation of the gums before gum disease develops. This can be one of the areas we neglect when we are brushing, hence leaving some plaque on or in between the teeth, eventually making its way underneath the gums. Placing your brush at an angle so half the brush is cleaning your teeth and the other half is cleaning your gums in a circular motion would be recommended. Dentists recommend the use of an electric toothbrush to make this process easier, but both manual and electric are just as effective with the right techniques used.
Flossing in between the teeth:
Floss is recommended to use to clean in between the teeth as the toothbrush cannot effectively clean these areas; this should be done before brushing as this will allow the fluoride in the toothpaste into these gaps. Your dentist or hygienist can give you the correct advice on how to use floss however some people do struggle to use floss so there are other alternatives.
Interdental brushes:
Interdental brushes are another way to clean in between the teeth and are most recommended by dentists due to its ability to remove more of the plaque and debris as allowed by its bottlebrush-like structure. These come in many different sizes to fit the gap between your teeth and are quite compact so they can be taken everywhere with you. Some people do have tight gaps in between their teeth and may struggle to fit the interdental brushes. In this case flossetts will be more useful as the floss on the handle will help to give an easy grip and can be used for the back teeth where it is hard to reach and to clean the contact points between the teeth.
Regular cleans/check-ups:
It is also recommended to have regular dental check up’s at least every 6 months, as this can help to prevent the development of gum disease in the first place and track the progress of the gum disease and work on preventing it from developing further through the appropriate treatment for each case, as advised by the dentist. Seeing the hygienist is mostly advised as they will provide a deep clean below the gum line and this will help to control the disease, but the visits must be regular as advised to keep it from progressing.
When you have a busy lifestyle, it may seem hard to keep up with everything that needs to be done to maintain your dental health however your teeth and gums are an important area that need the right care to prevent problems affecting your daily life. Spending a few minutes per day on maintaining your gums will help you to prevent the development of gum disease, keep your mouth healthy and prevent you from eventually losing your teeth. Please ask for advice if you are unsure as someone is always there to help you.
