A healthy smile is more than just your pearly whites. Your gums play an integral role in keeping your mouth healthy and your smile looking its best. Taking proper care of your gums can also prevent dangerous gum disease and dental pain.
Why Does Gum Care Matter?
Your gums keep your teeth healthy. When you don’t include gum care in your dental hygiene routine, you can suffer from tooth loss, periodontal disease, and even a nutritional deficiency. Even more frightening is that once gum disease progresses, it can be impossible to reverse the damage.
What Can You Do to Protect the Health of Your Gums?
1. Know the Signs of Gum Disease
The good news is that gum disease can be stopped, reversed, and prevented from returning when caught early. You may have heard of gingivitis, the mild inflammation of gums that is often the first stage of more severe gum disease.
What are the signs of gingivitis?
- Bleeding, sore, or swollen gums
- Increased sensitivity from a receding gumline
- Tooth decay
- Pain while chewing
If you’re experiencing any of these, make an appointment for a cleaning. When left untreated, gingivitis can lead to significant issues, including tooth loss.
2. Don’t Forget to Floss
Flossing is an essential key to healthy gums and teeth. Flossing your teeth daily removes plaque, food, and bacteria before it has a chance to damage your teeth and gums. Combined with brushing, flossing regularly helps encourage healthy gums and prevents soreness and bleeding.
If you’ve got young ones at home, make flossing a part of their bedtime routine. Setting the standard for good dental habits can set your children up for a lifetime of healthy smiles. Flossing also helps remove food particles kids can miss while brushing.
3. Break Bad Habits
Choosing healthier snacks and meals can give your gum health a considerable boost. Fruits and veggies instead of sugary snacks can help brush away plaque instead of feeding it.
If you need another reason to quit cigarettes, smoking is linked to gum disease, increased healing time for damaged gums, and a weakened immune system. Quitting can improve your health and your smile. Need help breaking the habit? Here are some helpful resources.
4. Brush and Use Mouthwash
Using fluoride toothpaste reduces gingivitis and freshens your breath while mouthwash washes away food particles and debris lodged between teeth. Thoroughly brush twice daily to significantly improve your gum health.
5. Don’t Skip Regular Dental Cleanings
While brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash can significantly improve your gum health, they are not a substitute for dental cleanings. Not only are we able to give your mouth a thorough cleaning, but we’ll identify signs of early gum disease and other dental problems before they permanently impact your smile.
Don’t Skip Your Gum Care
Taking care of your smile includes caring for your gums. If you’re experiencing signs of gingivitis or you are ready to make an appointment for your dental exam, contact us today. We’re here to help you achieve the smile you’ve always wanted.
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