Reducing Your Risk of Periodontal Disease
by
Rosalyn Carson-DeWitt, MD The following steps can help reduce your risk of developing periodontal disease:
Follow Good Dental Self-care Practices
Get Regular Professional Dental CareYou should see your dentist every 6 months for a careful cleaning and for a thorough dental checkup. If you have already been diagnosed with periodontal disease, you should schedule a cleaning every 3 months. Stop SmokingSmoking is a major risk factor for the development of periodontal disease. Talk to your doctor about programs and aids to help you stop smoking. Eat NutritiouslyA nutritious diet can help you fight all forms of infection. It may also help you prevent foods that can be damaging or irritating to your teeth and gums. Ask your doctor whether you would benefit from working with a nutritionist.
References:Gum (Periodontal) Disease. NIH SeniorHealth website. Available at: ...(Click grey area to select URL) Accessed August 17, 2016. Periodontal disease. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: ...(Click grey area to select URL) Accessed August 17, 2016. Periodontal (gum) disease: Causes, symptoms, and treatments. National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research website. Available at: ...(Click grey area to select URL) September 2013. Accessed August 17, 2016. Preventing periodontal disease. American Academy of Periodontology website. Available at:
https://www.perio.org/consumer/prevent-gum-disease. Accessed August 17, 2016. Last reviewed February 2021 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Last Updated: 4/6/2021 | ||
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