Preventing Periodontal Disease

Daily Care

You can help prevent gum disease by brushing twice a day and cleaning between your teeth with floss or an inter-dental cleaner once a day.

Dental health care products

Choose products that display the ADA Seal of Acceptance, your assurance that they meet the ADA’s criteria for safety and effectiveness. Your dentist may provide additional instructions on cleaning methods or products you can use at home.

Periodontal screening

Regular checkups are important. During an examination, your gums are evaluated for periodontal disease. The dentist looks at many things, including the color and firmness of the gums. A very small instrument called a periodontal probe is used to gently measure the space between the teeth and gums. This determines whether periodontal pockets are present. The normal space between teeth and healthy gums should be three millimeters or less. Generally, the more advanced the gum disease, the greater the pocket size.

Dental Examinations

Even if you brush and floss regularly, you may not remove all the plaque, especially around the gum line. Plaque can harden into a rough, porous deposit called calculus or tartar. Once hardened, it can be removed only in the dental office during your regular cleaning.

Other preventive measures

Avoiding tobacco use and other healthy measures, such as eating a balanced diet, are important in preventing periodontal disease.