Gingivitis occurs during the early stages of gum disease when bacteria builds-up around the gum line. Gingivitis is treatable by a dentist, but protecting your mouth from gingivitis is even easier.
Brushing
Brushing your teeth is crucial to keeping a healthy mouth, as we all know. Below, Dr. Koops lists a couple of tips to keep in mind when brushing:
- Brush your tongue
- Avoid brushing aggressively
- Brush the inner, outer and chewing surface of your teeth
- Use a soft bristle toothbrush
Flossing
Don’t forget to floss. Flossing reaches the areas of your teeth your toothbrush can’t.
Schedule Trips to the Dentist
Proper dental hygiene is not complete without a professional teeth cleaning. Small amounts of plaque can be removed with a routine cleaning from your dentist. When plaque buildup advances, your dentist will need to perform a deep cleaning to get underneath the gums.
By keeping a good dental hygiene routine and scheduling routine visits to the dentist, the chances of having dental health issues, such as gingivitis, greatly decrease.
If you are due for a cleaning or have any questions about the health of your gums, be sure to schedule an appointment with Dr. Koops in Beachwood, OH.