One of the first things you notice about someone when you first meet him or her is their smile. A beautiful smile is a beautiful thing. That smile cannot be possible without healthy gums. And to have healthy gums, you need to know how to prevent gum disease in the first place.
City Dental Centers in Pico Rivera, California wants you to know how to care for your gums, so everyone you meet remembers your amazing and dazzling smile. Mother Teresa once said, “Let us always meet each other with a smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.”
How To Prevent Gum Disease
Follow these five easy tips from City Dental Center to begin that magical smile:
- Brush and floss daily.
- Eat properly
- Keep stress and anxiety to a minimum
- Do not smoke or chew tobacco
- And always check the medicine you take to make sure they are not too harsh for your gums
- BONUS: Check out this blog post we wrote that explains the 5 Signs That Your Child is Not Brushing.
Sings of Gum Disease
It is important to make sure you do not suffer from periodontal diseases. This disease is an infection of your gums and an infection of all structural areas around your teeth. Remember, you need to keep infection away from your mouth and you need a strong foundation to support your teeth (and keep up that pretty smile)!
There are three different stages of gum disease. Our Santa Ana dentists want you to know and are able to recognize the stages. Your gum health is of the utmost importance to us. The stages are:
- Gingivitis: Gingivitis is an inflammation of gums due to access plaque. The damage caused by Gingivitis can be reversed with proper care and gum/teeth maintenance. Our dentists in Santa Ana can help you get started with a good program of maintenance.
- Periodontitis: Periodontitis is when the bones and support system for your teeth are damaged beyond repair. You can visit our office to prevent further damage to your gums. We will set up a personal program to help you with your Periodontitis.
- Advanced Periodontitis: This stage is when the supporting bones for the teeth actually become compromised and fractured. Your teeth may become loose and you may actually lose some ofthem.
Bacteria are the culprits when it comes to gum disease. But there’s more to it than that. When you prevent gum disease, you also help keep other parts of your body healthy and safe. Did you know that periodontal disease could actually lead to other diseases and conditions such as:
- Strokes
- Heart Disease
- Premature births
- Diabetes
- Lung issues
Unhealthy gums can look bad, cause a plethora of issues, and make you sick. So follow our five easy tips for keeping your gums healthy and prevent gum disease.
Warning Signs of Unhealthy Gums
There are some signs that will tell you if you are suffering from gum disease. Be cautious if you have:
- Bleeding gums
- Swollen gums
- Discolored or black gums
- Receding gums
- Loose teeth
- Pus on gum discharge
- Constant bad breath
Tips To Prevent Gum Disease
Tip #1: Brush and Floss Daily
It is imperative that you brush your teeth several times daily. You need to remove the plaque that may have accumulated while you ate throughout the day. Pick a firm brush and make sure you cover all of the teeth diligently. Brush your tongue and then follow your brushing with a good flossing.
Floss between each and every tooth. Regular brushing and flossing will ensure you never get to any of the stages of gum disease. Make sure you schedule your bi-annual City Dental Center appointment, so they can keep an eye on the state of your teeth and gums.
Tip #2: Eat Properly
Remember that old saying “You are what you eat”? Well, it is true. It works like this, if you eat lean meats, fresh vegetables, and fruits, and stay away from junk food and sugars; your plaque will be less hostile. Additionally, your body will be prepared to fight any infections that might try to settle in and attack your gum regions.
Your diet greatly impacts your gum condition and therefore, you need to make sure that your diet selections are healthy and wise.
Tips #3: Keep Stress and Anxiety to a Minimum
Stress can affect your teeth and your gums. Grinding of teeth or chewing on gums can make the gum area ripe for infection. The dry mouth that being anxious can sometimes cause result in swollen gums or gum sores. Again, these conditions can lead to an infection, which can attack the tooth support area.
It is easy to say, do not be stressed, but it is important for your gums, heart, and blood pressure that you set aside the worries you have no control over and manage your stress. Your health is important and City Dental Centers wants you to be healthy, happy, and smiling!
Tip #4: Do Not Smoke or Chew Tobacco
A carcinogenic product that enters your gum, lips, and tooth area on a regular basis cannot be good. The tobacco can cause your foundations to weaken, your teeth to turn brittle, and yellowing of the teeth. But more dangerous than all of these conditions is the fact that using cigarettes or chewing tobacco can cause cancer such as cancer of the mouth. Keep away from deadly tobacco products. Doing so, will keep you healthy and keep your pearly whites looking good!
Tip #5 Check Any Medicines You Take
Did you know that medicines you might be taking for another ailment might actually weaken your gums or irritate them? And some medicines are packed with sugars, which can create increased plaque. Ask your doctor what ingredients are in the medicine he is prescribing and check over-the-counter medicine such as cough drops or cough syrups for heavy sugar content. If you need a cough suppressant, consider using an all-natural and low sugar product instead of one heavy on sugars.
The dentists of Pico Rivera at City Dental Centers want to help you have and keep healthy gums. Follow their advice and couple it with regular check-ups to keep your gums and teeth in tip-top shape and prevent gum disease!
Convenient Dentist Offices in Southern California
Doctor Sam Shahovesi and the team at City Dental Centers are here to provide our patients with the best dental services and dental surgeries for children and adults of all ages. From toddlers to seniors, City Dental Centers offers six convenient dentist offices in Southern California. We even have a dedicated children’s dentist office, City Dental Kids & Braces, to cater to the special physical and emotional needs of children.
Whether you need checkups, x-rays, braces, bonding, teeth whitening, sealants, oral cancer screenings, root canals, crowns, bridges, implants, or tooth extraction, City Dental Centers is here to make the process as easy and comfortable as possible.
Contact The Nearest Dentist to You
Ready to experience the best dentists in Los Angeles? Choose one of the convenient dental offices we have surrounding LA. We have dental practices in Azusa, Corona, Lake Forest, Montclair, Pico Rivera, and West Covina. You can call our main line at (888) 624-8933 or reach out to an office directly with the information below. We’re so happy you’ve chosen City Dental Centers. We can’t wait to help you along your dental journey and brighten your beautiful smile!
Dentist in Azusa, CA
Location: 483 S. Citrus Ave. Azusa, CA 91702
Phone: (626) 966-3400
Dentist in Corona, CA
Location: 161 McKinley St. STE 102, Corona, CA 92879
Phone: (951) 737-3746
Dentist in Lake Forest, CA
Location: 24602 Raymond Way #210, Lake Forest, CA 92630
Phone: (949) 461-5800
Dentist in Montclair, CA
Location: 5182 Moreno St, Montclair, CA 91763
Phone: (909) 295-3477
Dentist in Pico Rivera, CA
Location: 9400 Whittier Blvd, Pico Rivera, CA 90660
Phone: (562) 949-2526
Dentist in West Covina, CA
Location: 154 Plaza Dr, West Covina, CA 91790
Phone: (626) 962-1722