Gum health is essential in maintaining good oral health. Read to know the best ways to keep your gums healthy.
Use Dental Floss
Every day, make sure to use dental floss. It’s among the best ways to keep your gums healthy. Flossing helps remove the plaque and food bits your toothbrush can’t reach. You can do it in the morning, at night, or after lunch. Just make it a daily habit.
Visit the Dentist Regularly
Seeing your dentist regularly is essential. They can catch early signs of gum issues before they get worse. Professional checkups and cleanings are the best ways to keep your gums healthy.
Cleanings remove tartar and any leftover plaque that your brushing and flossing might have missed. If you have gingivitis, brushing, flossing, and regular dental check-ups can help turn it around.
Quit Smoking
For those who smoke, here’s one more good reason to quit. Smoking is strongly linked to gum disease. Smoking weakens your immune system. It makes your body hard to fight off gum infections.
Smoking also slows down the healing of your gums if they get hurt. Avoiding tobacco is among the efficient ways to keep your gums healthy.
Keep Yourself Hydrated
Staying hydrated is among the best ways to keep your gums healthy. Having enough saliva in your mouth is essential for a healthy mouth and to control the growth of bacteria. Saliva helps move food particles out of your mouth because trapped food particles can cause cavities.
Saliva reduces the chance of bacteria feeding on those food bits in your mouth. Aim to drink 7-8 glasses of water daily to maintain the right amount of saliva in your mouth, especially when you feel thirsty or dry.
Choose Snacks That Are Kind to Your Gums
Sugary foods, gum, and sodas can encourage harmful bacteria growth in your mouth, leading to gum problems. Snacks like crackers, potato chips, and dried fruit can cling to your teeth, and if you don’t clean your teeth soon after eating, it can harm your oral health.
The bits of food can stay on your teeth for hours because most people don’t brush their teeth right after eating. Instead, consider these gum-friendly foods:
- Dairy products and other foods with calcium are great for your teeth.
- Fresh fruit, hummus, and vegetables are all healthy choices for your mouth.
If you eat something sweet, rinse your mouth with water afterward. If you have sugary foods or fizzy drinks, wait at least 30 minutes before brushing your teeth.
Brush Twice Daily
Always brush your teeth after you eat. This helps eliminate the food and plaque stuck between your teeth and gums. Bush your tongue also because it can also hold onto bacteria.
Use a soft-bristled toothbrush that fits comfortably in your mouth. Try a battery-powered or electric toothbrush. These can be better at reducing gum problems and plaque than hand brushing.
Change your toothbrush or the head of your electric toothbrush every three to four months or sooner if the bristles fray.
Choose Fluoride Toothpaste
When it comes to toothpaste, there are many options on the store shelves, claiming to do various things like fight gum problems, freshen breath, or whiten teeth. Fluoride toothpaste is among the best ways to keep your gums healthy.
Go for toothpaste with fluoride that also carries the ADA seal of approval. As for the flavor and color, that’s entirely your choice.
Use Therapeutic Mouthwash
You can usually get therapeutic mouthwashes without a prescription. Using therapeutic mouthwashes is one of the efficient ways to keep your gums healthy. These can help reduce plaque, prevent or lessen gum issues, slow down tartar buildup, or offer a mix of these benefits, according to the ADA.
Additionally, using mouthwash helps wash away food bits and debris from your mouth, although it’s not a substitute for flossing or brushing. Always look for the ADA seal, which means it’s been tested, proven effective, and safe.
Conclusion
The blog guides you on ways to keep your gums healthy. Choose a healthy diet and take care of your oral hygiene to maintain good oral health. Contact Dentalsways for more information. Your smile is our priority.
