We’ve all heard how various mouthwashes and toothbrushes can help us prevent gingivitis (the first stage of gum disease), but what you don’t tend to hear outside of your dentist’s office is that even consistently brushing and rinsing twice a day isn’t enough. Semi-annual visits to your dentist for professional hygiene treatments, and (perhaps most importantly) flossing daily are absolutely vital to warding off this all too commonly diagnosed disease. Conservative estimates indicate that at least 80 percent of the population has some form of gum disease, yet most of us don’t realize the seriousness of the issue… or the simplicity of its prevention. (more…)