Garak-dong Dentist - The Key to Preventing Gum Disease..

Hello. I am Shin Seung-hwan, the director of Yonsei U-Line Dental Clinic, Garak Branch, located in Garak-dong, Songpa-gu, near Garak Market Station.

Today, I would like to talk about the relationship between gum disease and bacteria, as well as ways to prevent gum disease.

There are hundreds of different types of bacteria living inside the mouth.

The composition and number of these bacteria vary depending on the environment. People who frequently develop gum disease generally have a higher proportion of harmful bacteria in their mouths.

By contrast, people whose gums remain healthy without inflammation have an environment in which beneficial bacteria are dominant.

This is similar to gut health. If you eat cold or spoiled food in the summer, you may suddenly develop enteritis or diarrhea, right?

This happens because the normal bacteria that were originally maintaining balance in the intestines lose that balance due to harmful bacteria introduced from outside.

The same applies to gum disease in the mouth.

As harmful bacteria increase, the gums become inflamed and bleed, and in severe cases, the condition can progress to periodontal disease.

Therefore, the important thing is to maintain a balance of bacteria.

The first step is, of course, developing proper brushing habits.

The purpose of brushing is not simply to remove food debris, but to mechanically remove the bacterial film attached to the tooth surface, known as dental plaque.

In particular, the areas between the teeth and gums and between adjacent teeth are where bacteria attach most easily, so a regular toothbrush alone may not be sufficient.

As you age, the gums gradually recede, creating gaps that were not there before.

When plaque builds up in these gaps, it hardens and turns into tartar, which becomes a breeding ground for bacteria.

Therefore, it is important to actively use supplementary tools such as interdental brushes and dental floss.

This type of care becomes even more necessary after middle age.

Brushing three times a day is the basic recommendation, but the most important time to brush is at night before going to bed.

This is because saliva production decreases while you sleep, making the mouth an environment where bacteria can grow easily.

Therefore, be sure to brush thoroughly before going to bed.

However, no matter how diligently you brush, tartar can still form in deep areas that the toothbrush cannot reach.

Therefore, we recommend getting insurance-covered scaling at least once a year.

Although it varies from person to person, in general, having regular dental checkups and scaling once every six months is much more effective.

Other major factors that harm gum health include smoking and drinking alcohol.

Smoking reduces blood supply to the gums and suppresses the immune response, making gum disease much more likely to develop.

Alcohol can also dry out the mouth and rapidly worsen the bacterial environment, so it is advisable to brush your teeth after drinking.

Finally, just as important as reducing harmful bacteria is finding ways to increase beneficial bacteria.

Recently, many oral probiotics have become available for use in the mouth. Using products such as propolis or probiotics appropriately may help maintain gum health.