Gum disease

How Tooth Brushing Prevents Gum Disease

Posted on
Categories: Dental health, General dentistry, Gum disease, Oral Health

Fort Collins Teeth Bleaching

Everyone should brush their teeth at least twice a day. In this post from The Fort Collins Dentist, we’ll talk about why this is so important.

Brushing and flossing are the best ways to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. When you brush with fluoride toothpaste and carefully floss your teeth, you remove food debris and clean away plaque build-up.

If, however, you let food stay on your teeth, the starches in it combine with the plaque. This nasty mixture forms an acid which immediately starts drilling into the enamel to form cavities. Brushing can’t get all the spaces between your teeth, so flossing is not optional.

When You Brush

  • Make sure to get all over your teeth. Brush and floss the front and the sides, inside and out, and the top. When you clean the sides, be sure you brush along the gum-line. Use a gentle touch, and hold the brush at a 45-degree angle.
  • As you do the front and side surfaces, move the brush in gentle, circular strokes. Make sure you brush for at least two minutes.
  • Use a pea-sized blob of fluoridated toothpaste; or more than a pea-sized, if you prefer. Too much is no big deal, but be sure to use enough.

At The Fort Collins Dentist, we want all of our patients to enjoy clean teeth and healthy gums. People throughout Loveland, Timnath, Wellington, and Windsor see us for a checkup every six months. We offer general and restorative dentistry. Request an appointment today!

Contact The Fort Collins Dentist Family & Implant Dentistry:

970-221-5115

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

2001 S Shields St Bldg L
Fort Collins, Colorado
80526

ArticleID 2251

9 Tips For Preventing Gum Disease

Posted on
Categories: General dentistry, Gum disease

prevent gum disease Fort Collins

Gum disease is a leading cause of tooth loss in the United States. But it is a preventable disease, and also treatable, at The Fort Collins Dentist.

Here are some simple ways to keep your teeth and gums healthy.

  1. Brush your teeth for two to three minutes, at least twice a day, with fluoridated toothpaste. Be sure to brush along the gumline. Don’t brush too hard, but be thorough.
  2. Floss daily to remove plaque from places your toothbrush can’t reach. Don’t like to floss? Try a floss holder, which makes it much simpler to insert floss between teeth.
  3. Although not a substitute for brushing and flossing, using a mouth rinse can prevent plaque accumulation and keep your enamel strong. Remember that fluoride mouth rinses are not the same as mouthwashes. Mouthwashes have alcohol and are designed to freshen breath.
  4. Eat a healthy diet. Starchy and sugary foods increase plaque. A sensible diet provides the nutrients necessary (Vitamins A and C, in particular) to keep teeth and gums healthy.
  5. Don’t smoke, or use smokeless tobacco, which may bring about advanced gum disease or oral cancer. That includes e-cigarettes.
  6. Be aware that certain medications can also threaten a healthy smile. These include oral contraceptives, antidepressants and heart medicines.
  7. Exercise prevention and schedule regular evaluations — the best way to detect early signs of gum disease and make a plan to reverse it.
  8. Talk to us about dental health topics such as old, broken fillings or crowded teeth.
  9. If you grind your teeth, ask us about ways to protect them.

Prevention is always the best medicine, so brush and floss your teeth twice a day. At The Fort Collins Dentist we treat gum disease, and people from Loveland, Timnath, Wellington, and Windsor come to us for general and family dentistry services. Schedule an appointment with us today!

Contact The Fort Collins Dentist Family & Implant Dentistry:

970-221-5115

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

2001 S Shields St Bldg L
Fort Collins, Colorado
80526

ArticleID 8129

How Much Do You Know About Gum Disease?

Posted on
Categories: Dental health, General dentistry, Gum disease

gum disease treatment Fort Collins

Gum disease is a leading cause of tooth loss in adult Americans, yet many people are surprisingly under-informed about it. In this blog post from The Fort Collins Dentist, we share some basic facts about gum disease.

  • In its earliest and most treatable stage, gum disease is called gingivitis. The more advanced form is called periodontitis.
  • More than half of Americans who are thirty and older have periodontitis. That equals nearly sixty-five million people.
  • The best way to prevent gum disease is to brush and floss your teeth twice a day, and have a dental checkup twice a year.
  • Gum disease has few symptoms in its early stages. You could have it but be completely unaware.
  • Tiny amounts of blood in the sink when you brush is not normal. If you see a little blood when you brush and floss, make an appointment with us right away.
  • Improved brushing and flossing, along with using an antiseptic mouthwash, is often enough to successfully treat gingivitis.
  • Advanced gum disease affects bone and ligaments, in addition to the gums. It requires more aggressive treatment, such as deep cleaning, but it too can be reversed.
  • Gum disease has been linked to more serious health conditions, including heart attacks, stroke, and Alzheimer’s.

These are frightening facts. It reminds us of the old saying that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

To put it another way: guard your dental health with regular brushing and flossing, and regular checkups at The Fort Collins Dentist. We treat gum disease. People from Loveland, Timnath, Wellington, and Windsor also come to us for complete general and family dentistry. Call to schedule your next checkup today!

Contact The Fort Collins Dentist Family & Implant Dentistry:

970-221-5115

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

2001 S Shields St Bldg L
Fort Collins, Colorado
80526

ArticleID 7386