Recommit To Your Gums

Periodontal disease can cause major damage to your smile, your gums and your self-confidence. The first time you brush and your gums bleed it may be easy to blow it off. You might think a little bleeding is normal, but it is not. Any bleeding at all is a sign of gingivitis, which can lead to periodontal disease. 

Your periodontal health is critical for the health of your entire body. If you have periodontal disease, the infection can lead to damage to the rest of your body, including your heart, lungs, and liver. This month recommit to the health of your gums by following these three rules. 

Brush your teeth 2x a day for at least two minutes. When you brush you should do so in small circles. Vigorous brushing can cause damage to the gums and cause further problems. Pick out a new soft toothbrush every six months, as the bristles of the brush lose their effectiveness over time. 

Floss 1x a day. Flossing is the only way to remove any food from between the gums. When you floss, you want to wrap the floss around your fingers about 1-2 inches apart. Move gently between the teeth. Dr. Denine Rice states, “You should avoid pushing hard.” If you are struggling with breaking the floss, you can try waxed floss as this helps it glide between the teeth. 

Visit the periodontist if you're experiencing bleeding and swollen gums. Once you have periodontal disease, treatment is the only way to fix the problem. Don’t let time pass where you do nothing.   

Call Dr. Rice & her team today for more information.

Take Time For Your Smile

Don’t underestimate the power of your smile. While you are rushing around the house to get ready for that date, or for your big interview, don’t forget to stop to brush and floss your teeth. We abuse our gums and our teeth by eating over processed foods, loading our coffee with too much sugar and not flossing. However, this powerful body part is responsible for releasing endorphins that help keep us healthy.

The more you smile, the more endorphins are released and the happier you feel. However, it needs to be a true smile with a full mouth of teeth showing. If your mouth is riddled with decay and you’re not fully confident you could be robbing yourself of the healthy happy life you deserve, and at the same time, impacting your overall health.

It can be easy to over look your teeth when you are looking for the perfect high heels to match that blue dress. Periodontist Dr. Denine Rice suggests, "individuals neglect their teeth more than any other body part."  “You take a shower once or twice a day to protect your skin, and refresh your smell but then fail to follow through with flossing or brushing your teeth.

Dr. Rice also hears numerous excuses from patients about proper brushing and flossing, everything from not enough time, to patients that don’t have proper hand dexterity to floss correctly.  That is why it is important to find the right toothbrush and floss that fits your needs.

No need to neglect your smile before that date, now you truly can find any product you might want to create a healthy, white smile that exceeds your expectations..