QUESTION: Dental health: how to prevent tooth decay and gum inflammation?

Preventing tooth decay and inflammatory processes in the gums requires a comprehensive approach based on regular and high-quality home hygiene. The main cause of tooth destruction and gum disease is dental plaque—a sticky film of bacteria that constantly forms on the surface of the teeth. If this plaque is not removed in time, it mineralizes and turns into hard tartar, which can cause chronic gum inflammation, bleeding, and periodontitis.

In addition to brushing your teeth twice a day with a brush and paste, it is critically important to clean the interdental spaces, where the bristles of a regular brush cannot reach. To do this, you need to use dental floss or special interdental brushes daily, selecting their size individually with the help of a dentist. An oral irrigator serves as an additional preventive tool, washing away food particles with a pressurized water stream and massaging the gums to improve blood circulation in them.

A balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle play an equally important role in the prevention of dental diseases. You should limit the consumption of foods with high amounts of hidden and refined sugar, as carbohydrates are what feed bacteria, which release acids that destroy enamel. After each meal, it is recommended to at least rinse your mouth with plain water or use xylitol-containing chewing gums to restore a normal pH level in the oral cavity.