En Español (Spanish Version)
by Carson-DeWitt R
Reducing Your Risk of Periodontal Disease
The following steps can help reduce your risk of developing periodontal disease:
Smoking
is a major risk factor for the development of periodontal disease. Talk to your doctor about programs and aids to help you
kick this habit
.
A
nutritious diet
can help you fight all forms of infection, including the kind that causes periodontal disease. Ask your doctor whether you would benefit from:
- Working with a nutritionist
-
Taking
vitamin supplements (especially
vitamin C
)
-
Brush your teeth twice daily:
- Use an end-rounded, soft-bristled toothbrush.
- If you have trouble managing with a manual toothbrush, consider using an electric toothbrush.
- Brush first with a dry brush; follow this by brushing with toothpaste.
- Dry brushing should take about 90 seconds.
- Brushing with toothpaste should take about 30 seconds.
- Use a toothpaste containing fluoride.
- Hold your brush at a 45° angle with the bristles toward the gum.
- Brush every tooth surface and along the gum line, using small, circular motions.
- Clean between your teeth once each day, using either floss or another cleaning aid prescribed by your dentist
- Ask your dentist if you would benefit from a fluoride mouth rinse.
You should see your dentist every six months for a careful cleaning and for a thorough dental checkup. Furthermore, if you’ve already been diagnosed with periodontal disease, you should have a more thorough cleaning every three months.
References
Gum disease: what you need to know. American Academy of Periodontology website. Available at:
http://www.perio.org/consumer/gum-disease.htm
.
Updated May 2008. Accessed April 23, 2009.
Periodontal (gum) disease. National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research website. Available at:
http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/DataStatistics/FindDataByTopic/GumDisease/
. Updated December 2008. Accessed April 23, 2009.
Periodontal (gum) diseases. American Dental Association website. Available at:
http://www.ada.org/
.
Updated March 2005. Accessed April 23, 2009.