Your gums are the often-overlooked heroes of your mouth. They work hard to protect your teeth and prevent you from developing diseases. All day and night your gums cling to the bone beneath to protect your teeth by forming a tight seal where they come in contact with your pearly whites. This prevents bacteria and viruses from sneaking into your system and causing infection. Help these oral heroes do their job better by keeping them healthy.
How can you protect and maintain your gum health?
1. Floss, Floss, and Floss Again
Flossing is the number-one way to prevent gum disease. When you pull that thin string between your teeth, you’re knocking out your gums’ arch-nemeses: food, bacteria, and plaque. When you wipe out these bad guys, you are stopping a chain reaction.
Plaque creates a surface for food and bacteria to cling to. When left alone, these substances form acids that wear away your enamel. Additionally, your body sends white blood cells to the area to fight off infection, and this erodes your gums over time, leaving your teeth, bone, and body vulnerable to bacteria.
2. Schedule Your Dental Cleaning Now
We can give your teeth and gums the deep clean they deserve. We will remove tartar and any plaque that may be hiding in the shadows. We can also spot any problem areas and begin treatment and help prevent further damage.
3. Quit Harmful Dental Habits Now
Smoking, candy, and acidic foods and drinks can do real damage to your oral health. Acidic foods break down your enamel, destroying that tight seal between your gums and teeth. This space creates an opportunity for damage.
As for sweets (especially stick sweets), they create a surface for bacteria to stick to. This can become a hotbed for problems. If you do dive into dessert, remember to brush immediately after.
Smoking hurts you in more ways than you can count. But when it comes to your gum health, smoking weakens your immune system. This puts your body at a disadvantage when it comes to battling infection. Smoking also slows your healing rate.
4. Brush After Meals
Keeping bacteria at bay is a lot easier if you don’t give it the chance to stick around for a while. Brush your teeth after breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Remember that thorough brushing is better than hard, harsh strokes. Small circles up into the gumline will do the job.
Don’t forget to switch out your old brush for a new one every three-to-four months.
5. Fluoride is a Friend Not a Foe
When choosing your toothpaste, be sure it has fluoride. Your mouthwash should, as well. Give your fluoride the opportunity to do its job by allowing it to sit on your teeth for the full two to three minutes of brushing. Fluoride strengthens your teeth and can reverse early tooth decay.
Give Your Gums a Fighting Chance
When it comes to your oral health, your gums shouldn’t be underdogs. Nobody has ever wished they took worse care of their gums. Give them a fighting chance by arming them with fluoride, flossing, and professional cleanings. We’ve got your back–and the fronts and areas between your teeth. Make an appointment to see us today!
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