How to Maintain Healthy Gums in 7 Easy Steps
Do you know how to improve your overall gum health? Here is how you can quickly and easily maintain healthy gums.
You should only take care of the teeth you wish to keep. Proper oral health care isn't difficult, yet millions of people neglect their teeth and gums. People often have a fear of going to the dentist and wait until it's too late. Prevention is the best way to avoid major dental work or losing your teeth altogether. Healthy gums and teeth have an effect on our overall health and should be taken seriously. Just brushing isn't always enough to take care of plaque and gum disease. You need to incorporate a full dental care regime. It's easy to do and your teeth and gums will thank you for it.
Here are some easy ways to keep your gums healthy.
A Guide to Healthy Gums
A few easy ways to keep your gums and teeth in great health are easy to add to your daily routine. Once you get used to doing them it will become common practice.
We all know we need to brush our teeth, but it doesn't mean we always do. We need to know how to brush our teeth properly, as well. It's really important to brush in the morning and before bed. Bacteria can do a lot of damage while we sleep. Brushing well and properly , plus rinsing will help remove the food particles that cause cavities. It's also important to use a proper brush. If you find it too hard, or that you can't reach your back teeth, find one that fits your mouth. It shouldn't hurt your gums or be awkward to brush with. Change your brush every 3 to 4 months.
Common in almost all toothpaste, it helps your teeth fight decay. Sugars, acids, and bacterias can attack our teeth, so use fluoride to help fight decay and even reverse early decay. Fluoride is often part of your water system, so drink tap water. It's also added to your toothpaste, mouthwash and can be found in food items like tea, coffee, grapes, potatoes and more. It can also be found in sugar, sugary drinks and artificial sweeteners, which should be avoided.
This is not an option. It's so important to your oral health. Flossing helps remove food particles lodged in between your teeth. Left alone, they cause bacteria to grow and start to eat away at the enamel of your teeth. It's important to floss around the tooth but also up and down. Get low enough to go just below the gum line without pain or bleeding. This helps to reduce disease, inflammation and gets the plaque building up. Carry floss with you at all times. Even when you are out for dinner or socializing, you can pop out to the washroom to give yourself a quick floss. It gets rid of food particles and freshens your breath. Important on date night, but all the time, too.
If you visit regularly, like you are supposed to, your dentist can spot any potential problems and catch them before they become big ones. The best way to prevent drilling is to take good care of your teeth and gums. A regular checkup is also motivating for you to keep your teeth in better condition. If you start brushing and flossing a few days before, your dentist will know. better to impress them with your diligence. Get your teeth cleaned and even consider getting them whitened. This will motivate you to keep them this way when you see how much better they look. It's easy and can be done on your lunch break.
Food plays an important role in our healthy teeth and gums. Just like there is a long list of foods to avoid, there are foods that will help keep your gums healthy. Eat apples, celery and other crunchy foods like carrots. They act like Mother Nature's toothbrush, cleaning your teeth and gently massaging your gums. This keeps decay and plaque from forming and can break off early plaque. Foods rich in calcium, nuts water-based fruits and vegetables. Avoid candy, sugar and potato chips , or at least brush and floss after eating. Starchy foods get caught in our teeth and those particles turn to sugar.
Give your gums a bit of a massage. It will keep the circulation moving, remove food particles and also draw attention to any minor problems. It can ease a sore area by dislodging anything trapped below the gum line. You can use your finger or buy a brush designed specifically for massaging your gums. It can work not only to work the gums but to remove debris from your teeth. It allows you to find flaws, cracks or chips in your teeth you have been unaware of and frankly, it just feels good.
I mean, seriously. With everything we know about the dangers of smoking, just stop. It not only stains your teeth but it weakens your entire immune system. That means you lessen your chances of fighting off diseases. You increase your chances of gum diseases, you can infect your saliva glands, and increase your chance of oral cancer, like tongue, mouth, and throat. I mean, seriously. Just quit.
Say Cheese
Taking good care of your teeth is more than just looking good. It's important to keep on top of oral care for healthy gums and teeth. So many of us dread the dentist, but if we take great care of our teeth, there is no need. Gums are often neglected in our dental care. They need attention too. If they start to recede, this opens up a whole new bunch of problems. They become more susceptible to infection, cavities and even exposed nerves.
If you have noticed a difference in your gums or teeth lately, you should make an appointment with a dentist. They can spot any issues you may have and make recommendations for helping you. Please contact us with any questions you might have or to make an appointment. We welcome new patients and provide emergency services.
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