Your gums are the foundations of your smile. Although they may be out of sight, their health impacts your teeth and jaws. It’s easy to ignore the early signs of gum disease, but these subtle signs are important warnings.
If you develop gum disease, you can lose teeth and jaw bone mass. This changes your appearance while affecting confidence levels and your ability to eat and speak.
Because we often focus on caring for our teeth, it’s understandable that you may not know how to look after your gums.
In this article, we’ll share some essential tips for keeping your gums healthy.
1. Keep An Eye On How Much Sugar You Consume
The bacteria that cause harm to your teeth and gums thrive when there’s plenty of sugar to consume. Eating sugary foods and drinking sweet drinks will give the bacteria that are always present in your mouth something to feed on.
Acids are produced by bacteria that consume sugar. This acid will cause damage to your teeth and gums.
2. Brush Your Teeth Twice a Day
Plaque is the sticky coating often present on teeth and gums. It’s made up of bacteria and saliva. Although plaque is naturally occurring and always there, it can harden to form tartar, damaging teeth and inflamed gums.
Mild gum disease is called gingivitis. Its symptoms are red, swollen gums and light blood spots on your toothbrush. Although this may not cause a major concern, it worsens without proper care.
Brushing your teeth every morning removes bacteria that has built up overnight. You should also brush your teeth before bed. This will clear away the food particles and bacteria accumulated throughout the day.
When you brush, take your time and ensure every surface is thoroughly cleaned.
3. Floss!
Whenever you brush your teeth, take a couple of minutes to floss. This often skipped step is very important for the health of your gums and jaws. Food debris and bacteria get trapped between your teeth.
Because your toothbrush can’t get between them, this can lead to periodontal disease.
There are several ways to floss. You could use traditional dental floss, water flossers, or one of a variety of different flossing tools on the market.
4. Use the Right Toothpaste
There are countless types of toothpaste on the market, and each boasts a different flavour and benefits. The question is, “Which is the best toothpaste for healthy gums?”
Ignore all the gimmicks and bold claims, and look at the ingredients on the back. You should use toothpaste with plenty of fluoride. This mineral is used in many toothpastes and helps protect your teeth and gums.
Fluoride levels are measured in parts per million. Aim for a toothpaste with around 1350-1500 ppm fluoride.
5. Use Mouthwash
A good mouthwash will clear away any food particles missed while brushing, reduce plaque levels on teeth and gums, and slow the build-up of tartar.
Although mouthwash will complement your hygiene routine, using it after brushing your teeth will wash away the fluoride from your toothpaste. Using your mouthwash at a separate time will increase the benefits of your toothpaste.
6. Quit Smoking
Smoking is a leading cause of gum disease. Smoke naturally dries your mouth out, affects your immune system, and reduces the oxygen levels in your blood. All of these factors contribute to poor gum health.
Giving up smoking isn’t easy, particularly if you’ve smoked for a long time. However, there is support available. Speak to us or your GP for advice on giving up.
7. Get Regular Dental Checkups
Dental checkups allow us to spot any issues with your oral health early. Although you may think we’re looking at your teeth, we also look for the signs of oral cancer and issues with your jaws and gums.
We recommend seeing us twice a year. The more often we see you, the easier it will be to treat any issues we spot. Problems with gum health are often easily reversed with simple lifestyle changes, assuming we can catch them early.
8. Come In for a Hygiene Treatment
Dental hygiene treatments will give you brighter, healthier-looking teeth, but because they remove any tartar, they also benefit your gums.
A dental hygiene appointment is also a great opportunity to learn more about how to take care of your gums and discuss lifestyle changes that could make a positive impact on your oral health.
9. Eat the Right Diet
Your diet plays a big part in your gum health. In addition to reducing your sugar consumption, you should eat more fruit and vegetables that are high in fibre, as these are great for keeping your mouth clean.
Drinking lots of water rinses away bacteria and food debris. Green and black teas are also useful for maintaining better oral hygiene.
Gum Care In Durham
Your gums should never be ignored. Making some simple changes will prevent periodontal disease while keeping your smile healthier for life.
Call us today to book your next checkup or hygiene appointment.
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