How To Keep Your Teeth

Most Americans have some degree of gum disease. In the beginning stages of gum disease, you may notice that you gums bleed when you brush you teeth or floss. The gums may also look swollen or feel tender. The end stage of gum disease is that you will lose your teeth! I believe that most of us would much rather keep our teeth in our mouths where they belong. In order to prevent gum disease from reaching that end stage or to prevent gum disease altogether, you need to do two things:

1. See a dentist on a regular basis and follow his instructions for good dental hygiene.

2. Brush your teeth at least twice a day and preferably after meals with flossing at least once a day.

Harmful bacteria found in the colorless sticky film cause gum disease that we call - plaque. Plaque can build up on the teeth, where it will start to irritate the gums and cause them to bleed.

If plaque is not removed by good dental hygiene it is left to stay on the tooth enamel and cause the gum tissue and connective tissue of the tooth to be destroyed which loosens up the tooth. Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss.

Gum disease is preventable with good dental hygiene on a regular basis and by receiving good dental care.

Gum disease is also called "periodontal" disease because periodontal means, "around the tooth". Gum disease therefore involves not only the tooth but also the gum tissue that surround the tooth. It is important to clean not only the tooth surfaces, but also the area around the tooth (gum) and in between the teeth in order to prevent gum disease.

Keeping your teeth is as easy as understanding what gum disease is, knowing the importance of good dental hygiene at home and making a commitment to seeing your dentist at least twice a year (usually every 6 months).

Understanding what gum disease is, will allow you to look out for, and recognize gum disease signs when you see them. Once you identify the signs of gum disease you can take quick action by scheduling a dental exam right away. It is also important to immediately step up your efforts to take good care of your teeth by brushing after each meal, flossing at least once a day and using a mouthwash once a day.

Now that you know how important good dental hygiene is to your current and future health of your teeth, you can practice good dental care and also teach your kids to follow good dental hygiene at home.

As much as most of us dislike going to the dentist, knowing how important those visits are to our dental health will help us to make and keep those appointments.

Get on track to good dental health and you will be able to keep those teeth for your entire lifetime. Teach your kids good dental health and they also, will be able to keep their teeth for their entire lifetime.