Unless you have a strong genetic disposition to gum disease, for most people, the disease can be managed and treated with a bit of brushing up on oral hygiene at home and regular visits to your dentist and hygienist.

Even if you have periodontitis (a more severe form of gum disease), you’re not alone and can still work towards healthy gums with the help of some expert care.

Top help, we’ve have divided this post into a few easy to digest chunks:

  • What to do if you have gum disease
  • What to avoid to maintain healthy gums
  • The waring signs of gum problems

Visit Your Dentist & Hygienist!

Although you can be on the lookout for signs and symptoms of gum problems, only an expert can diagnose with certainty what is common, early gum disease (gingivitis) and what is full onset gum disease (periodontitis) and advise the best course of treatment.
Regular check-ups ensure that any issues are caught early and, if there are no issues, you have that warm glow of a job well done.
It takes so little for gum problems to set in, but it is then all the more difficult to correct. A period of lax dental hygiene might create the onset of issues that a period of extra brushing won’t necessarily resolve as once plaque is hardened it cannot be removed at home.

Smoking

Smoking is also to be avoided – we are not here to tell you to quit, but it is worth knowing the damage smoking imparts. Anyone who smokes a pack a day has six times the risk of suffering from gum disease! Once gum disease is present, smokers will take much longer to recover due to a hindered healing process.
You can read more on how smoking affects oral health here.

Stress

A final item to, if not avoid, at least be aware of, is stress. Stress has many health implications and a strong correlation to gum disease is just one of them. Is it possible to eradicate stress? Sadly not. However, at least be aware that in times of stress oral health can suffer, if nothing else try to maintain a good dental routine and avoid resorting to stress relief in the form of cigarettes, coffee and alcohol.
Soft tissue in the mouth tends to be a good indicator of dental health, ulcers can be a sign that stress is having a negative impact and that action may be required.

The Three Steps to Good Gum Health

Ultimately, all the above can be summarised in just three simply steps.
Maintain good oral hygiene.
Follow a healthy diet and lifestyle where possible.
Attend your regular check-ups and mention any concerns to your dentist and hygienist.
Follow these three steps and you will be on course for healthy gums – and you’ll be in the happy minority. If you have any concerns over your oral health, don’t hesitate to contact our team at The Dental Surgery in London.

Do you have a specific question?

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