5 Tips for Better Gum Health
When you think about oral hygiene, you’re likely most focused on the health of your teeth. While it is important to care for your teeth and prevent tooth decay, the health of your gums is just as essential. Your gum health can not only affect the health of your teeth, but it can also affect the overall health of your body, too.
How Gum Health Affects General Health
Periodontal disease (gum disease) is a bacterial infection of the gums that develops most often as a result of poor oral hygiene. The harmful bacteria from this infection can be inhaled leading to respiratory infections, and it can also actually enter the bloodstream, causing issues throughout the body such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, dementia, reproductive issues, and more.
How to Keep Your Gums Healthy – 5 Tips for Better Gum Health
1. Floss
You should be flossing at least once a day to remove the plaque, food debris, and bacterial buildup from between your teeth and gums. Be sure to floss between each tooth, on either side of the small wedge of gum tissue between your teeth. Pull the floss into a “C” shape to clean thoroughly along the rounded wall of each tooth.
2. Brush the Right Way
When you brush your teeth, hold your toothbrush’s bristles at a 45-degree angle, pointing toward your gum line. This angle will best remove plaque and bacteria from the spaces between your gums and teeth.
3. Stop Smoking
Smoking dries out the mouth and tobacco use of any kind causes inflammation of the gum tissues which can put you at an increased risk of developing gum disease.
4. Cut Back on Alcohol
Alcohol also causes inflammation of the soft tissues in the mouth and can lead to dry mouth, limiting saliva production that helps keep bacteria in check.
5. Use Mouthwash
Use an alcohol-free mouthwash to kill the harmful bacteria living in your mouth.
Schedule Your Next Dental Cleaning and Exam With Our Kenmore Dentist
In addition to practicing good oral hygiene at home, one of the most important things you can do to maintain the health of your gums and your teeth is to schedule regular appointments for professional dental cleanings and exams. During dental exams at Kenmore Smiles Family Dentistry, Dr. Mott carefully examines each patient’s teeth and gums for signs of gingivitis, periodontal disease, tooth decay, or other concerns. When we catch these issues as they’re first developing, it’s much easier to treat them, prevent the issue from worsening, and sometimes resolve the problem altogether.
To learn more about our dental practice or to schedule your next dental exam, we welcome you to contact Kenmore Smiles Family Dentistry today.
