Periodontal Disease - Prevention

Daily Dental Care

Correct tooth brushing, mouth cleansing, and flossing should be everyone's defense against periodontal disease. (It should be noted that good hygiene is probably not sufficient to prevent periodontal disease in many people who are susceptible to this autoimmune condition. Regular visits to a dentist are extremely important in high-risk individuals.)

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Brushing Guidelines. The following are some recommendations for brushing:

First use a dry brush. One study reported that when people brushed their teeth without toothpaste first, using a soft dry brush, their plaque deposits were reduced by 67% and gum bleeding dropped by 50%.
No brush of any size, shape, or gimmick is effective if it is incorrectly positioned in the mouth. Place the brush where the gum meets the tooth, with bristles resting along each tooth at a 45-degree angle.
Begin by dry brushing the inside the bottom row of teeth, then the inner top teeth, and last the outer surfaces.
Wiggle the brush back and forth so the bristles extend under the gum line.
Scrub the broad, biting surfaces of the back teeth.
Dry brushing should take about a minute and a half.
A paste is then applied and the teeth should be rebrushed in the same way.
The tongue should be scrubbed for a total of about 30 seconds. A tongue scraper used with an anti-bacterial mouthwash (such as Listerine) is more effective than a toothbrush in removing bacteria.
One should rinse the toothbrush thoroughly and then tap it on the edge of the sink at least five times to get rid of debris. (It should be noted that detergents in toothpaste that remain on the brush may help prevent bacterial contamination of the brush.)
Flossing should finish the process. A mouthwash may also be used.

If brushing after each meal is not possible, rinsing the mouth with water after eating can reduce bacteria by 30%.

Toothbrushes. A vast assortment of brushes of varying sizes and shapes are available, and each manufacturer makes its claim for the benefits of a particular brush. People should look for the American Dental Association (ADA) seal on both electric and regular brushes.

In spite of the wide variety of nonelectric toothbrushes, both in shape and bristle design, a study of eight brands found no significant differences in effectiveness among them.

Electric toothbrushes, particularly those with a stationary grip and revolving tufts of bristles, can be advantageous for some people with physical disabilities. Electric toothbrushes with heads that move back and forth up to 4,200 times a minute remove significantly more plaque than ordinary brushes. Even more high-tech brushes are now available that use sound waves to remove plaque.