When it comes to maintaining good oral health, it isn’t just your teeth that you need to worry about. Even if you are cavity-free and have beautiful pearly whites, you still need to protect yourself from gum disease. Gum disease starts when you get plaque buildup both along and under the gum line, and since it is usually painless, many people won’t even realize there is something wrong with their gums. Maintaining healthy gums is a great way to enhance your overall oral health and can help prevent tooth decay, gum disease and bad breath.
We’ve highlighted 4 ways to maintain healthy gums so you can continue to keep your mouth happy and have a great smile!
Maintain Healthy Gums: Brush Twice Every Day
Brushing your teeth is one of the easiest ways to maintain healthy gums, so it’s important to brush at least twice a day. It helps to remove plaque and food that might be trapped between your teeth and gums. To step up your brushing game, consider using an electric toothbrush, as they can help reduce plaque and gingivitis more than a manual toothbrush.
In addition to brushing your teeth regularly, flossing is a great way to maintain the health of your gums. Flossing once a day will help remove any food or plaque that you might not be able to reach when brushing.
Stop Smoking
Smoking is strongly associated with the onset of gum disease, and because smoking weakens your immune system, it can also make it harder to fight off a gum infection. The ailments of your gums will gradually affect the attachment of both soft tissue and bone to your teeth. Along with gum disease, smoking is also associated with tooth discolouration, bad breath, buildup of plaque, and loss of bone within the jaw.
Visit Your Dentist Regularly
Regular visits to the dentist are key to keeping your gums happy and healthy. Not only will the dental hygenist do a thorough job of cleaning your teeth of plaque and tartar, but they will also check your overall oral health to make sure there are no other issues. It is best to visit the dentist twice a year, and the great news is that if you do have gingivitis, it can be reversed with brushing, flossing and regular dental checkups.
Use Mouthwash
Along with regular brushing and flossing, using an antibacterial mouthwash is a great way to maintain good gum health. It can help reduce plaque buildup, prevent gingivitis, and reduce how quickly tartar develops. Plus, the rinsing motion will also help remove food particles from your mouth.
Maintaining your oral health is incredibly important, so knowing what you can do to keep plaque and gum disease at bay is crucial. By doing the four things listed above, you can keep both your teeth and gums healthy and happy, so you can continue to show off those pearly whites!