Once upon a time trips to the dentist consisted of routine cleanings and the dentist advising us to "brush a little better and don't forget to floss". Advising that our plaque build up was a little higher than usual, but nothing to worry about. 

Today things look a little different, dentist are now finding that more and more patients are beginning to show signs of periodontal disease- gingivitis. 

Don't despair, because this means the ball is in your court. Ginigivitis is only the beginning stage and can be reversed.

Here are some great tips to get you on the right track:

Schedule More Time For Your Teeth

Most people, according to the Journal of the American Dental Association spend about 30 seconds in the morning on their teeth and even less repeat this in the evening. We suggest blocking out about 5 minutes in the morning and evening to take care of your teeth. FPB- Floss, Peroxide, & Brush. 

For those of you who don't know what we mean by "peroxide"- place one capful of peroxide in your mouth after flossing and hold without swishing around for 1-2 minutes. Then spit and brush. This helps clean the hard to reach areas and remove and bacteria lurking around, it also helps to whiten your teeth!

Calcium

Gingivitis is the beginning stage of what most dentist refer to as peridontal osteoporosis. Just like the bones in the rest of your body can shrink and get brittle, so, too, can your jawbone and teeth. Dentist suggest taking supplements or consuming more dairy, broccoli, salmon, almonds, and other calcium rich foods. Also, plenty of exercise and a strict no smoking policy are best to put in play.

Vitamin C

Although it won't cure gingivitis it can help check bleeding gums according to a study at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Western Nutrition Research Center in California. 

Cut Your Vices

I hate to say it but excessive smoking and drinking can drain your body of vitamins and minerals to maintain a healthy lifestyle and oral health is one of the first to go.

Raw Vegetables to the Rescue

Research shows that eating one raw vegetable a day helps to clean and stimulate the teeth and gums. So grab a carrot and get busy!

Baking Soda and Water

Mix baking soda with a little water and massage the gumline with your fingers 3-4 times a week before brushing. This will help clean, polish, neutralize acidic bacterial wastes, and deodorize your mouth.

Aloe Vera

Some people brush their teeth with aloe vera gel a couple of times a week. Dentist even agree that it helps reduce the amount of plaque and is a healing agent. I suggest to never use store bought aloe vera gel and to buy a plant and use that. Aloe vera gel is more powerful when freshly used and almost useless from a bottle. The cooling and moisturizing properties are still there but when used fresh you benefit more!

What Happens If You Ignore Your Dental Health?

If you ignore sore, bleeding gums, or consistant bad breath your in for a bad trip. Patients who ignore their dental health or signs of peridontal disease can suffer from horrible pain, loss of teeth, and more serious health problems. Major signs NOT to be ignore:

• Loose teeth
• Pus pockets between teeth
• Your teeth look longer as a result of gum shrinkage
• Consistant bad breath
• Consistant bad tastes