Ensure You Are Doing These Things To Keep Your Gums Healthy
Healthy gums are essential to ensuring that you have good oral health. Some people make the mistake of focusing on their teeth. They fail to realize that healthy gums are required to keep teeth in place. This is why some people with severe gum disease have teeth that end up falling out as the disease progresses. The following are a few things you can do to keep your gums as healthy as possible.
Floss
This is ideal for healthy gums and teeth. Perhaps you have always been told to floss, but you may not have realized how this activity keeps gums healthy. Flossing loosens plaque between teeth and plaque that has settled near the gum line. People who skip flossing often may experience receding gums. Another consequence of not flossing is tartar buildup near the gum line.
Tooth Brushing
Some people find it hard to believe that plaque can adhere to gums in a similar way to how it sticks to teeth. This is why when you brush your teeth, you should also take the time to gently brush your gums. If you only brush your teeth, you may leave behind bacteria that can contribute to gum disease. Ensure you brush the outer and inner portions of teeth and gums as well as your tongue and the roof of your mouth. The goal is to remove bacteria from as many areas of your mouth as possible.
Calcium-rich Foods
It is important to consume foods that are rich in calcium because they can keep food from sticking to teeth and gums. Food that gets stuck on teeth can cause bacteria and plaque buildup. Plaque and bacteria can both lead to tooth decay. They can also invade the gum line, which might initially cause gingivitis. Untreated gingivitis may lead to aggressive gum disease.
Antiseptic Mouthwash
Swishing your mouth with an antiseptic mouthwash can lower the concentration of bacteria in your mouth. Lowering the bacteria activity aids in keeping gums healthy. You may want to use antiseptic mouthwash when you do not have time to brush.
Professional Cleanings
Your dentist, such as Carpenter Dental, will likely examine your gums and note their health when you go to them for your dental cleanings. This is the best way to catch gum disease in its early phases. Early cases of gum disease can usually be treated with better results than advanced cases. Professional cleanings involve more in-depth cleansing than you can do at home, and it will remove plaque and tartar from the base of teeth and the gum line if they are present. Some people with gum disease have loose pockets around their teeth that can trap bacteria, and professional cleanings can remove bacteria from these hard-to-reach areas.
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