Seeking the help of a periodontal professional is the only real way to treat periodontal disease effectively, so before you do anything else, make a visit to the dentist's office a priority at the very first sign of problems with your gums. Bleeding while brushing or flossing is usually the first indication and shouldn't be taken lightly. Seek help immediately. Meanwhile, there are several things that you can do at home to help the situation along.
Step 1
Brush your teeth at least twice daily. Be sure to brush both sides of your teeth in gentle circular motions. Brush your gums as well. The accumulation of plaque will only further compound the problem, so keep your teeth as clean as possible.
Step 2
Floss at least once daily; food has a tendency to lodge between teeth and further promotes the accumulation of plaque and bacteria that can weaken your gums. In dealing with periodontal disease, the importance of flossing cannot be expressed enough.
Step 3
Eat a balanced diet. If your immune system is healthy, it will be harder for bacteria to have an effect on you. Eat fruits, vegetables and whole grains while cutting back on unnecessary sugars that can negatively effect both your teeth and the rest of your overall health.
Step 4
Incorporate Listerine into your daily routine. An antiseptic mouthwash such as Listerine can help clean places that your toothbrush and sometimes even the floss can't; rinse twice daily with the Listerine for the best results.
Step 5
Schedule appointments with your dentist/periodontist and keep them. The fight against periodontal disease really needs to be fought on two fronts. The dentist can perform scaling and root planning to help clean under the gums and take a closer look at your progress. He can help to give you the right tips and advice in your own personal battle with periodontal disease.
Tips and Warnings
- Adding a drop of grapefruit seed oil to the toothbrush when you brush your teeth can help to kill bacteria in the mouth.
- Pregnancy can both bring about and worsen periodontitis. If you experience a painful change in your gums, get to a dentist immediately to address the problem.
Things You'll Need
- Toothbrush
- Dental Floss
- Listerine
