7 Ways To Avoid Gum Disease

Gum Disease

Gum disease is a degenerative condition of the gums and soft tissues in the mouth. It may start undetected, but once gum disease has taken hold of tissues in your mouth, it can quickly become a condition that adversely affects the entire body.

Symptoms of gum disease:

Symptoms of gum disease generally don’t pop up until the advanced stage of the disease is in place. Signs that you need to seek dental intervention for gum disease include:

  • Red, bleeding, or inflamed gums
  • Bleeding while brushing, flossing, or eating hard foods
  • Receding Gums
  • Loose or separating teeth
  • Persistent pain in the mouth
  • Noticeable bad breath
  • Pus in and around the gumline
  • Open sores near the gumline

If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms it is essential that you contact your dentist to seek treatment for gum disease and to stop any further progression.

Knowing what signs to look for and what to do to prevent gum disease from taking hold will be essential in improving and treating your mouth, teeth, and gums. Here are some things you can do to treat and even prevent gum disease:

Brush those teeth!

brushing teeth

It seems like such a simple thing to do, but it is fundamental to good oral health. Brush at least twice daily with a soft-bristle brush and fluoride toothpaste. Hold the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle against both teeth and gums, and move back and forth in a circular motion. Clean all surfaces of the tooth, and give attention to soft tissues in the mouth as well like gums, insides of cheeks, and the tongue. Bacteria can lurk anywhere in the mouth, and brushing is the best way to clear it all out.

Use the right toothpaste:

toothpaste

Not all kinds of toothpaste are created equal—when choosing a toothpaste, look for one that addresses your individual needs as well as provides additional protection against cavity formation. Look for the American Dental Association seal of approval, and make sure it contains cavity-fighting fluoride to keep teeth and gums healthy.

Floss, floss, floss!

While you may be an excellent brusher, there are just some places that brushes cannot go to clean teeth. This is where flossing comes in; flossing removes debris in and around the gumline and in between teeth, providing you with the most comprehensive clean possible. It is important to floss daily to keep teeth and gums at their healthiest. Establish a routine where flossing is a normal part of dental care; your mouth will thank you.

Rinse with care:

Many people rinse their mouths out after brushing, thinking that they are removing additional debris that may still be present. However, when you rinse with water, you end up removing valuable fluoride that is left over from brushing. Oral rinses should complement brushing practices; look for a rinse that contains fluoride and other protective elements that will strengthen teeth.

Choose the right mouthwash:

mouthwash

Choosing a mouthwash that contains therapeutic ingredients will help to protect surfaces of teeth as well as soft tissues of the mouth. A therapeutic mouthwash can reduce plaque and tartar buildup, reduce the likelihood of infections, and keep your breath fresh and inviting for hours. Mouthwash should never be a replacement for brushing and flossing, but rather a compliment that rounds out your oral care routine. Look for one that is ADA approved, and you’ll be good to go.

Get regular dental checkups:

Professional cleanings are the best way to remove plaque and tartar from the teeth. In addition, your dentist can proactively diagnose and treat any dental issues that come up before they rob you of your overall health. With regular visits, a dentist can identify early symptoms of gum disease and gingivitis, making these conditions much more treatable. Make a commitment to yourself and your health by scheduling professional dental cleanings at your Burbank Dentist at least twice a year.

Lay off the bad habits:

Drinking and smoking are habits that adversely affect your health as well as your mouth. Studies show that the use of tobacco and alcohol are more at risk of developing gum disease, gingivitis, and even oral cancers. Replacing these habits with some more health-conscious ones will ensure that you avoid the effects that these substances have on your mouth.

Another factor in the treatment and prevention of gum disease and gingivitis is nutrition. What a person chooses to eat and drink can directly affect the health of the mouth. Some food to include that promote oral health include:

  • High fiber, water-rich fruits, and vegetables
  • Black and green teas, which are known to reduce bacteria
  • Dairy products such as milk, cheese, and yogurt
  • Foods that contain fluorides, such as sea vegetables and water
  • Sugar-free gum, which can promote saliva production

It is generally a good idea to avoid the following food and drink to promote good oral health:

  • Carbonated sodas and sugary juices
  • Alcohol
  • Sticky and sugary candies and foods
  • Starchy foods that can get stuck in teeth
  • Acidic foods that can wear away the enamel on teeth

If your gums are red, inflamed, or bleeding, it is time to visit your dentist to get a professional assessment of your dental condition. Following these simple tips for proactive dental care will ensure that you achieve optimal dental health. Here’s to your brightest, healthiest smile!

Read Also:

I enjoy writing and I write quality guest posts on topics of my interest and passion. I have been doing this since my college days. My special interests are in health, fitness, food and following the latest trends in these areas. I am an editor at Content Rally.

View all posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related

Nerves vs. Excitement

Nerves vs. Excitement: How To Manage Nerves And Perform At Your Best

Anyone who has ever been called to come and speak or perform in front of a public gathering knows the importance of holding nerves. From the time we are in school, some of us have dreaded raising our hands and speaking out the right answer even though we know what we are. We have looked at astonishment at so-called confident individuals and wondered what makes them do things that we cannot. Common terms like ‘performance anxiety, ‘stage fright’, ‘nervousness’, etc. are all common emotions and feelings that we harbor. The key is- how do we overcome the same? In this resource article, we are going to help a lot of people come to grips with their nerves. If you are someone who dreads talking in front of a crowd, we recommend that you stick around till the end of the article. Being ‘Nervous’ Versus Being ‘Excited’- How a Change in Terms Can Help: ‘I am too nervous; I can’t go out there and speak’! According to leading psychologists, a simple interchanging of the terms nervous and excited can go a long way in dispelling the fear. Rather than say or think that you are getting the nervous try and say to yourself that you are feeling excited. What you need to understand is that nervousness is associated with being a negative feeling. On the other hand, excitement is something that is deemed to be positive. This simple exercise wires your brain in a specific way, which then lets the body flow from the same feeling. For example, as soon as your brain starts comprehending that you are nervous, it sends a signal to your body, which then results in stomach pains and churnings. This is why you need to start feeling excited and look forward to the opportunity. There is a lot of energy that builds up in the body in such situations. The key is to effectively manage the same productively and positively. The ‘Fight’ and ‘Flight’ Instinct that Defines a Nervous State of Being: To understand these better leading scientists have spoken about the ‘Fight and Flight Syndrome’. They point out that whenever the brain is faced with a complex and problematic situation, it does one of two things- It either wants to escape and run away from the scenario. Or, It starts to swing madly to bring the situation under control. However, in some instances, and I am sure, you are going to relate to this, the brain goes into a hung position. Meaning, it neither fights nor flights. In this situation, the resultant action is a freeze! You get frozen and cannot do anything. According to experts, the fight or flight instinct needs to be properly managed by telling your brain some important things. What are those things? In very simple words, not every such scenario is going to be a life and death one. Meaning it is not at all serious and does not amount to anything. Once your brain can understand this, it starts processing emotions and feelings differently. Following this, it then sends these signals to the rest of your body. List of 5 Important Ways to Help Overcome Nervousness- In this section, we compile the top recommendations from the leading mental health experts to combat nervousness- 1. Undertake Adequate Preparation- According to scientists, 50% of all nervousness results from inadequate preparedness. This means that the more you are prepared, the lower will be your levels of nervousness. Reflect on your school days. Remember when did not know the answers to the question the teacher was asking, how you would try to avoid making eye contact? However, if you were prepared, you would not do the same. Practice makes perfect when it comes to combating nervousness. 2. Focus on ‘You’ providing Value to the Audiences- Whenever we are nervous, we keep thinking about ourselves. However, the key in this regard is to shift focus to the audiences that are sitting right in front of you. Start thinking of all the value, information, education, and enjoyment that you are going to give to the audiences. This will put you in comfortable headspace. Let me in you on a little secret. Audiences want everything should be about them. So, you can simply shift the spotlight on them. 3. Take Help from your Friends and Family Members- Leading comedians and artists have pointed out how having their near and dear ones in the audience helps them overcome stage fright. This is a simple, yet effective solution to combating nervousness on stage. Many also point out how they keep looking for their near ones in the audience and use them to make eye contact with different sections of the audience. This boosts their confidence and makes their brain understand the support there is on offer. 4. Breathe, Relax and Take it Easy- Remember, this is not a life-and-death situation. No one is perfect and even the best ones make mistakes. Once you can tune your brain accordingly, you will be able to get a hold of your nerves. Try breathing and being patient at all times. You can do mistakes, it is alright. Realize that you’ve done the work. The more relaxed you are, the better will you be able to convey. There will always be errors, and you should not worry about making them. 5. Engage with Positive Relaxation Techniques- In the last few years, relaxation strategies like Yoga, Massages, Aromatherapy, etc. have become very popular. They help channel positive energy within the body and calms down the senses. Regular meditation is great for your body mentally, as well as physically. By making such healthy practices a part of your daily life, you will be able to control your emotions in a much better way. Try meditating for 15 minutes every morning and see the difference. The Final Word: At the end of the day, you need to realize that we are all humans. We have a range of emotions, feelings, and characteristics that make us special in our way. No two individuals are the same and we must acknowledge the same. By paying attention to all the pointers in the article, you too can expect to combat nervousness and be better prepared for the next time you face the audience. Read Also: 6 Reasons Why You Would Need Psychotherapy 5 Protein Enriched Food To Improve Mental Health 6 Effective Ways to Improve Your Mental Health

READ MOREDetails
Breast Reduction Surgery

7 Important Reasons for Breast Reduction Surgery

Are your large breasts causing you embarrassment? Do you feel like sometimes, they're all that people see when they look at you? Do you often wake up with constant pain and tension in your back and shoulders -- and suspect that you're dealing with back pain from breasts that are larger than average? If so, then it's likely that you've already considered getting a breast reduction for back pain and for cosmetic purposes. But what are some of the other reasons for breast reduction surgery, and is it right for you? 7 Important Reasons for Breast Reduction Surgery Keep on reading this post to find out -- and learn how to get the body you've always wanted. 1. You're Tired of Back Pain: As you've likely expected, one of the most popular reasons for breast reduction surgery is due to back pain from breasts that are especially large. In general, women whose breasts are larger than a D cup experience moderate to severe heavy breast pain on an almost daily basis. This can make it difficult to sleep, walk around or exercises for long periods of time, or just lead to general discomfort. This is because the weight of your breasts pulls your body forward constantly -- and the muscles throughout the rest of your body often aren't strong enough to support the heavyweight of your breasts. In some cases, this can cause not only serious back pain, but even issues with your spine. This is because, over time, your breasts will impact the curvature of your spine -- making your posture even worse and giving you a hunchback look. If back pain from large breasts is a familiar condition to you, then you've likely already tried several different remedies. You've been fitted for "the right" bra more times than you can count. You've tried to lose weight, hoping that the weight loss will also trickle down to your breasts. You've even taken pain relievers like aspirin in order to combat the tension and pain. However, if you're on the hunt for a permanent solution to the agony, a breast reduction for back pain is likely your best option. 2. You'll Avoid Skin Discoloration: One of the worst parts of having a large breast problem? In addition to heavy breast pain in your chest and your back, you've likely also noticed some serious breast discoloration. Though women with breasts of any size can develop discoloration in the breasts (especially underneath them) women with big breasts are at a higher risk. So, what is it? Usually, it's actually a rash that's formed up underneath the folds of your skin. This can happen because of heat and sweat, or simply because the skin has rubbed on the skin for too long. For some people, the rash can be red with small bumps. Others may notice that the skin around, on, and underneath their breasts is a much darker shade than the rest of their skin tone. In other cases, you may even start to notice that you have sores underneath your breasts, especially if you also know that you're wearing the wrong bra size. These sores will only get worse over time. Don't wait until you develop scarring. Visit the Allure Plastic Surgery website to learn more about the different options and reasons for breast reduction surgery today. 3. You Want to Switch up your Wardrobe: Not all of the reasons for breast reduction surgery have to do with health and medical reasons or treating heavy breast pain. Sometimes, you just want to feel like you can wear what you want to without having to worry about how the size of your breasts will impact the way the clothes fit you. We know that you're definitely tired of having to buy shirts in sizes that are way too big for you, just so that the top will fit over your breasts. You're also tired of heading to the tailor (another added expense of a larger breast size) or wearing clothes that make you look larger than you really are. When you're ready to wear flattering and form-fitting clothing with lower necklines without wondering if people are staring, it's time to consider getting breast reduction surgery. Of course, your outerwear isn't the only part of your wardrobe that you'll be able to seriously upgrade once you've had the surgery. When you're ready to wear cuter, skimpier, and definitely sexier lingerie, having a more manageable breast size will allow you to do just that. You can kiss full coverage bras with uncomfortable underwire goodbye. You'll be able to buy bras and negligees in more shades than just nude, black, or white. Instead, you can embrace demi cups, fun colors, and lots of lace! We think your partner will definitely notice and appreciate the change as well. 4. Your Breast Size Impacts your Posture: According to leading surgeons at Polaris plastic surgery, heavier breasts put a strain on different parts of the body. This includes the shoulders, chest muscles, hips, and spinal cord. The weight definitely makes a difference and reducing the same can help your body parts to manage the load better. Have you noticed that, no matter how hard you try to sit up straight, the larger size of your breasts makes it difficult -- even painful? This happens because the weight of your breasts actually pulls your body forward. As a result, you'll start to slump your shoulders and roll the upper part of your back at an awkward angle. Whether you're sitting or standing, you'll often feel like you have a permanent case of computer neck. This can lead to tension in your shoulders and upper back area, as well as the potential of developing a pinched nerve. The desire to improve your posture, for both health and cosmetic benefits, is one of the most common reasons for breast reduction surgery. 5. Working out Feels Impossible: You'd love to hit the gym with your friends, take a yoga or pilates class, or just be able to go for a run in your local park on a beautiful day. However, your large breast problem often makes that feel next to impossible. First of all, the heavyweight of your swinging breasts can make workouts incredibly painful, not to mention much more challenging. You're tired of having to wear multiple sports bras -- and still not seeing much of a difference. Additionally, you may deal with embarrassment about the size of your breasts while you work out. Finally, depending on the types of workouts that you like to do, you may end up putting excessive strain on your back because of the weight of your breasts. This is especially common for women who do exercises that require them to get into the plank position, or who do high levels of cardio that include running and jumping. Getting a breast reduction for back pain allows you to move more freely and feel less stressed and embarrassed while working out and eating right. 6. You'll Avoid Sagging Breasts: One of the most annoying large breast problems that you're tired of having to deal with? Sagging breasts that only seem to worsen with age. Though dropping and drooping of the breasts are normal for women of any breast size, the process certainly speeds up -- and is more noticeable -- in those with larger breasts. You may even have started to see that the overall shape of your breasts has changed. Getting a reduction can help to change that. 7. You'll Feel More Confident: Of course, the most important reason for breast reduction surgery is because it will help you to learn to love yourself and to feel more confident. As a person with larger breasts, we know that you're tired of hearing jokes about your breast size. You may even wonder whether or not people are interested in or attracted to you as a person or just the size of your breasts. You've noticed that you often hunch over so that your size is less noticeable, or wear clothing that allows you to "hide" your breast size. The truth is that no one should feel like they have to live with this. Getting a breast reduction won't just help to eliminate pain and improve your posture. It can also do wonders for your confidence. The Reasons for Breast Reduction Surgery: Wrapping Things Up: From eliminating the possibility of skin discoloration to helping you to feel more confident about the way you look, the top reasons for breast reduction surgery go far beyond just back pain from breasts. Want to learn more about how to get a breast reduction? Looking to deepen your understanding of what the process will entail, and what you can expect the recovery period to look like? We can help. Be sure to check out our website and blog for access to more articles on a wide variety of cosmetic procedures and wellness techniques. Make this the year that you start taking your life back into your own hands. Read Also: 10 Foods For Vibrant, Glowing And Younger Skin Effects Of Sleep Deprivation On Your Skin & Good Sleeping Habits 10 Weird Facts About Antidepressants

READ MOREDetails
Mental Health

6 Effective Ways to Improve Your Mental Health

Most people focus on building their muscles and abs to look good, but having a great body is not the only determinant of having good health. Another determinant is mental health which is often forgotten even though mental disorders are surging at a rapid rate for the past few years. Therefore, we should spend time building the health of our brains, and to facilitate that, we have listed here six practical ways you can employ to boost your mental health. 1. Develop a healthy net of relationships: Humans are made to be social animals, but loneliness has become the norm of modern times.  We mostly have digital voices to talk to like Siri and Bixby. Some reports in the United States have painted an alarming picture that loneliness has the same impact on the lifespan of humans as obesity. Therefore, avoid isolation and prioritize your positive relationships, and even if you do not have any, look for such connections because they will help you in remaining sane in this insane world. 2. Develop the habit of exercising: A growing body of scholarship has found a concrete relationship between exercise and reduction in mental maladies like stress, anxiety, and depression. It is stated that exercise releases 'feel-good hormones' called endorphins, which relieve not only the depression but also improve the quality of sleep. If you find yourself unable to hit the gym, take up some sport like football because it is a more entertaining way of achieving the same set of goals. Although, you are bound to get injured once in a while, but do not let that discourage you.  Also, do not take head injuries lightly and get a Neuroquant MRI immediately if you suffer a traumatic brain injury. 3. Keep challenging yourself: Do not get stagnant in your life, because nothing invites depression and anxiety more than monotony and depression. Therefore, even if you are at a good place in your life, keep setting new goals, and work diligently to achieve them. 4. Pay gratitude for all the things you have: Nothing ruins mental health more than negative thoughts like counting all the bad things in your life and practicing self-pity. Instead, make a gratitude journal and jot down all the small and big things you are grateful for, like a good family, decent health, your own home, a fun job, etc. 5. Watch your sleep: Sleeping is a crucial component of a healthy life, such that people suffering from sleep debt for a while tend to develop several mental disorders. Therefore, ensuring a quality sleep is paramount, but be aware that quality sleep is different from quantity sleep. For example, six hours of relaxing quality sleep are much better than nine hours of restless sleep. 6. Take care of yourself: Take some time for yourself and indulge in relaxing activities like traveling with your best friends, sleeping well, eating healthy, and meditating on the beach. Moreover, indulging in activities like massaging also have multiple mental health benefits like partial relief from stress and anxiety. You only live once; therefore, it is your responsibility to take care of yourself and live a life full of health, wealth, and wit, such that you are not left with any regrets. Read also: When Will Social Media Addiction Be Considered a Mental Health Condition? 5 Mental Health Benefits of Massage Therapy That You Must Know. 5 Protein Enriched Food To Improve Mental Health.

READ MOREDetails