Mayo Clinic Health Manager
Get free personalized health guidance for you and your family.
Get StartedLifestyle and home remedies
By Mayo Clinic staffYou can take steps at home to help reduce or control periodontitis, including:
- Get regular professional dental cleanings, on a schedule recommended by your dentist
- Use a soft toothbrush and replace it at least every three to four months
- Consider using an electric toothbrush, which may be more effective at removing plaque and tartar
- Brush your teeth twice a day, or better yet, after every meal or snack
- Floss daily
- Use a mouth rinse to help reduce plaque between your teeth
- Use an interdental cleaner, such as a dental pick or dental stick specially designed to clean between your teeth
- Don't rely on tartar-control toothpaste to do the job that brushing and flossing should
References
- Nguyen HD, et al. Common dental infections in the primary care setting. American Family Physician. 2008;77:797.
- Wilder RS, et al. Gingivitis and periodontitis in adults: Classification and dental treatment. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 10, 2008.
- Neville et al. Periodontal diseases. In: Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology. 3rd ed. St. Louis, Mo.: Saunders Elsevier; 2009:154.
- The use and handling of toothbrushes. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/OralHealth/infectioncontrol/factsheets/toothbrushes.htm. Accessed Oct. 17, 2008.
- Cleaning your teeth and gums (oral hygiene). American Dental Association. http://www.ada.org/public/topics/cleaning_faq.asp. Accessed Oct. 23, 2008.
- Loesche W. Dental caries and periodontitis: Contrasting two infections that have medical implications. Infectious Disease Clinics of North America. 2007;21:471.
- Tanner ACR, et al. Clinical and other risk indicators for early periodontitis in adults. Journal of Periodontology. 2005;76(4):573.