Living with periodontitis, the advanced form of gum disease, can be an ongoing challenge. Taking steps toward preventing and managing periodontitis is essential to protect your oral health. Working with a periodontist for gum disease treatment is perhaps the most crucial among them, but you can also take some simple steps at home to help.
Proper Brushing and Flossing
Poor oral hygiene is among the most significant risk factors for periodontitis, which is caused by bacteria in the mouth infecting gum tissue. Therefore, managing your bacteria levels through oral hygiene is an effective prevention strategy.
Brushing and flossing twice daily will help remove plaque deposits that contribute to periodontitis. While brushing, take the time to cover all tooth surfaces and floss around each tooth, especially around the gum line.
In advanced cases of gum disease, scaling, and root planing treatments are often necessary to remove plaque deep below the gum line. While these treatments go a long way to help treat gum disease, their results won’t last if you don’t keep up with your at-home oral hygiene.
Adding Mouthwash to Your Routine
While brushing and flossing form the foundation of an effective oral hygiene routine, adding mouthwash can further improve your results. Different types of mouthwash contain various antibacterial ingredients that help manage bacteria levels in your mouth while reaching the more difficult areas.
Remember, though, that you can’t rely on mouthwash alone. Talk to your periodontist about mouthwash to find the right one to use alongside your toothbrush and floss. In some cases of periodontitis, they may prescribe a special mouthwash with antibiotic medication.
Drinking Plenty of Water
One of the best things you can do for your overall health and to manage periodontitis is to drink water. Doing so throughout the day helps wash away bits of food and bacteria, keeping your smile clean and healthy. Staying hydrated also promotes saliva production, which has natural antibacterial properties.[1]
Just how much should you drink? While an exact number is difficult to nail down, men should drink about 13 cups of water daily and women about nine.[2] However, the simple answer is to drink when you’re thirsty. Keep a water bottle nearby to make doing so as simple as possible.
Getting More Exercise to Make Managing Periodontitis Easier
Exercise also helps you manage periodontitis in a variety of ways. It promotes stronger circulation, leading to more blood flow to the gums. You’ll also have a stronger immune system, reduced inflammation, and better healing capabilities to help fight back against gum disease. The stronger and healthier gum tissue is less likely to pull away from your teeth and cause gum recession.
It doesn’t take much to have a real impact, either. Moderate daily exercise goes a long way to improving cardiovascular health, which helps support strong and healthy gums.[3]
Stop Smoking
In general, smoking adversely affects your physical health as well as your oral health. To avoid exacerbating periodontitis any further, you must quit smoking. Long-term smoking can lead to plaque buildup, weakened and bleeding gums, and even weaken the immune system. When you have already been diagnosed with periodontitis, quitting smoking is essential and crucial to maintaining your condition.
Eating a Varied Diet
Periodontitis often requires significant intervention to protect oral health, such as deep cleaning or surgical treatments. Ensuring that you get the right nutrients afterward is a key part of making sure those results last.
Vitamins C and D, calcium, and antioxidants are vital nutrients that support strong and healthy gum tissue.[4] A diet that contains a variety of foods, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, and lean protein, will help you get the full range of nutrients you need to stay healthy.
Taking the Right Approach to Managing Periodontitis
Putting these tips into action at home can help improve the impact and retention of the results of your periodontitis treatments. Discuss your ideas with your periodontist, as they can provide personalized advice that best suits your case.
The team at Dental Implants & Periodontal Health of Rochester is here to make managing periodontitis as straightforward as possible. If you’ve noticed any symptoms of periodontitis, such as bleeding gums or gum recession, call us at 585-534-3346 or reach out online today to book your next appointment.
Sources:
[1] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6855406/
[2] https://www.eatright.org/health/essential-nutrients/water/how-much-water-do-you-need
[3] https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/gum-disease-and-heart-disease-the-common-thread
