Gingivitis - What To Do To Save Your Teeth & Help Your Heart

It's estimated that nearly 80 percent of American adults have some form of gum disease. For a long time we've known that gum disease is the major reason adults lose their teeth, but evidence also shows us now that there is a link between periodontal disease and heart health. The good news is that YOU can save your teeth, and help your heart, and it doesn't cost a fortune. Here's what to do:

• Take Some Time. If you want to get rid of gingivitis, you have to take time to floss and brush correctly. You need to block out 3 to 5 minutes twice or three times a day.
• Brush At The Gumline. The plaque-catching area around the gumline is where gingivitis starts, and it is the most neglected area when we brush. Place your brush at a 45-degree angle to your teeth so half of your brush cleans your teeth. The shimmy your brush, don't scrape.
• Two Toothbrushes. Get two toothbrushes and alternate between them. Allow one to dry and air out while using the other.
• More Power! Studies show an electric rotary toothbrush typically removes 98.2 percent of plaque, versus 48.6 percent removed by hand brushing.
• Bolster Your Bones. Just like the bones in the rest of your skeleton can shrink and get brittle, so, too, can your jawbone. Bolster your bones with plenty of calcium, exercise, and no smoking!
• Use Listerine. Listerine mouthwash was proven, in studies, to be effective in inhibiting the development of plaque and in reducing gingivitis. When buying generic mouthwash, look for cetylpridinium chloride or domiphen bromide. These are the active ingredients that reduce dental plaque.
• Scrape Your Tongue. Remove there bacteria and toxins hiding there. Scrape from back to front 10 to 15 times with a toothbrush, popsicle stick, tongue depressor or a washed poker chip.
• Use A Gum Stimulator. A rubber or specially designed triangular gum stimulator is better than a toothpick for massaging the gums It also cleans the surfaces between the teeth. Place it so the rubber point rests between two teeth, point the tip int he direction of the biting surface until the stimulator is at a 45-degree angle to the gumline. Apply a circular motion for 10 seconds, then move on to the next tooth.
• Eat Your Veggies Raw. Hard and fibrous foods clean and stimulate teeth and gums.
• Massage Your Gums. Grip your gums between your thumb and index finger (index on the outside) and rub. This increases healthy blood circulation to your gums.

You don't have to perform all these every single day, but perform something different, after you brush and floss, each day (massage one day, scrap your tongue the next, etc.) and you won't bore yourself to death. If you exhibit these signs your gingivitis may be getting more serious and you need to see a dentist:

• Bad breath that doesn't go away.
• Your teeth look longer. (Because your gums are shrinking away from your teeth.)
• Your teeth come together differently.
• Your partial fits differently.
• You find pus pockets between your teeth and gums.
• Your teeth are loose.

Also, if your gums still bleed when you brush your teeth, and continue to be sore and swollen despite your efforts at good oral hygiene, you need to see your dentist. Source: The Doctors Book of Home Remedies by Prevention Magazine