Top tips for avoiding gum disease

Convention has it that basic oral hygiene consists of two daily scrubs, a rinse and some mouthwash. However, some experts claim people are making mistakes even when brushing diligently.

Dr Praveen Sharma works at Birmingham University’s school of dentistry. He estimates that around 50% of British adults will suffer from gum disease at some stage of their lives and says an early symptom can be found in bleeding or swollen gums. If you experience these, you may need to brush more effectively.

Four tips for improving your dental health

Firstly, it can be just as effective to vigorously brush once a day than twice a day. The emphasis should be on quality not quantity, while always flossing and focusing on the area between teeth and gums.

Secondly, in the mornings, you should brush before and not after breakfast. This is in order to protect enamel wear from acidic foods and drinks, which intense brushing could aggravate.

The third piece of advice concerns rinsing. This might instinctively seem like a good idea, but dentists warn that a rinse removes the fluoride that protects teeth. Instead, you should spit out surplus toothpaste.

The fourth tip is to not get suckered by expensive toothpastes. Provided they contain fluoride, there is little to differentiate brands beyond their price tag.

For more information on best brushing practice, set up an appointment with our advanced care team at Art of Dental Care. We are leading providers of services such as gum disease treatment in Chester.