Gingivitis remains one of the most common dental conditions that dentists see. There are two main reasons that this gum condition is so common: one reason is that many people are consuming far too much processed food in their diet as well as foods that are high in sugars and this allows the levels of bacteria in your mouth to flourish and this bacteria causes gingivitis – the more processed and other sugary, fatty, high preservative laden food that you consume, the higher the chances that you will develop gingivitis.
The second reason is that many people forget about their dental routine and do not brush and floss with the recommended frequency. It is easy to understand why people forget to do this or can’t be bothered – we all lead such busy and hectic lives that it is easy to let your dental hygiene slip and place it in the too hard basket. With diet and lifestyle affecting your dental health, the door is open to gingivitis beginning to spring up in your mouth.
If you want to avoid developing gingivitis, then you need to brush your teeth correctly and do it regularly. That means having the discipline to get up and brush your teeth even when you are exhausted. Brushing teeth is one of the most effective ways we have to remove the bacteria in your mouth that, if left to multiply, lead to gingivitis developing. So before you nod off to sleep you should ensure that you brush those teeth as in reality it only takes a few minutes a day out of your busy schedule to virtually guarantee dental health.
As well as brushing your teeth at least twice a day, you should also be flossing. This is ideally done before you actually brush your teeth as it loosens up bacteria and food particles that get trapped between your teeth. Some people are put off flossing because their gums sometimes bleed when they do it, but this is the precise reason that you should floss as bleeding gums is a sign that mild gingivitis is already lurking.
Adjust Your Diet
You can fight off bacterial growth in your mouth if you change your diet to include more vegetables, fruit and whole grains. Sugary foods encourage bacteria to grow inside your mouth and it is this bacteria that causes conditions such as gingivitis in the first place. This may require you to schedule time and plan to cook healthier meals. If you become very busy during the week with scheduled family events and activities, then you can cook up batches of food on the weekend to freeze and defrost during the week. By taking control of the family’s eating habits, you will be protecting everyone’s dental and overall health from other health conditions too.
Visit Your Dentist Regularly
Visiting the dentist twice a year for a check up and clean is an important part of protecting your oral health from conditions such as gingivitis. When plaque builds up on the teeth, this is when gingivitis starts to rear its head. Your dentist is able to look out for the signs of this condition as well as cleaning off hard plaque that your toothbrush can’t remove. They will also teach you how to brush your teeth correctly to get the best results from your daily dental routine.