If your gums bleed, swell, or if they are painful when you brush your teeth, you may have gum disease. The early stage of gum disease is called gingivitis. You can practice proper oral care to undo the damage. Here are a few tips to help you stop gum disease before it hurts your smile.

Tips To Reduce Gum Disease at Smiles of Memorial:

1. Be Gentle While Brushing 

If you gum disease, you may want to brush your teeth for a long period of time and fast. Do not do this! Yes, it is true that brushing your teeth can reduce gum disease, but if you brush too hard or too long you could hurt the tissue on your gums. Once hurt, those tissues are hard to repair.

2. Stop Using Tobacco

Whether it is smokeless or smoking tobacco, it is bad for your health. If you stop using tobacco you can help your overall and oral health. Did you know? Smoking can increase your chance of getting gum disease seven times more compared to nonsmokers. Decide to stop using tobacco today to stop gum diseases and other conditions!

3. Avoid Stress

This may be a surprising tip, but stress can hurt your oral health. More stress not only decreases your body’s defense against infections, but it can also cause muscle tension. This could lead to clenching and grinding. This could make you gum disease worse. Also, the added pressure on your teeth from grinding can destroy tissues in your gums along with other oral conditions such as TMD.

4. Use Good Oral Hygiene to Stop Gum Disease 

The best way to promote good oral health is with a good oral hygiene routine. This means brushing twice a day, every day. No excuses! Start by brush after you wake-up and before bed for two minutes each. Also, floss twice a day. If your gums bleed or you experience tenderness while flossing, use extra care by sliding between the teeth instead of shoving the floss. Lastly, avoid sugary drinks and foods. This can include brightly colored fruits. Sugar or starches, which turn into acid, breaks down your tooth’s enamel, putting your tooth at-risk for a cavity. If you consume sugar, rinse your mouth with water afterward.

Although gingivitis can be reversed through good oral habits and brushing, periodontal disease cannot be reversed. Actually, you may experience bone or tooth loss as the periodontal disease develops. Following the steps above can help you reduce gum disease. For more information about treating gingivitis, get in touch with top dentist in Houston, TX, Dr. Viet Tran at Smiles of Memorial today!