How To Care For Your Gum Health
Healthy teeth allow you to chew your favorite foods and smile. They also support good jaw health. However, your teeth aren't the only part of your mouth that needs care. Your gums are also important for overall oral health. Here are four things you can do to care for your gums.
1. Brush your gums.
When you brush your teeth, you should also brush your gums. You can do this by angling your toothbrush toward your gum line. Use the bristles of your toothbrush to gently massage your gums. This cleans away plaque lurking at the very base of your teeth. It also stimulates your gums and improves circulation. When you brush your gums, always make sure you use gentle pressure because you don't want to hurt yourself or encourage gum erosion. You should also use a toothbrush with soft bristles instead of firm bristles.
2. Floss correctly every day.
Flossing is an excellent way to remove food that's stuck between your teeth. That isn't the only reason you should floss, though. Flossing also gives you the opportunity to clean away plaque and bacteria from beneath your gum line. The proper flossing technique is to gently wiggle the floss around the base of your tooth using a kind of sawing motion. Do this using light pressure so you don't hurt yourself. Flossing using this technique can help you prevent gum disease.
3. Visit your dentist for biannual cleanings.
Routine dentist appointments are a crucial part of maintaining your overall oral health. During a professional teeth cleaning, a dental hygienist will remove calcified plaque, called tartar, from your teeth. This type of deep cleaning can serve as a periodic reset for your oral health. Your dentist can make your teeth very clean, which can encourage you to keep them that way in between appointments. Clean teeth are great for gum health.
During your appointment, your dentist may check your gum depth. They will insert a small tool in the pockets of your gums beside each tooth. Shallow gums indicate gum erosion, which is caused by periodontal disease. If you show signs of periodontal disease, you will need to take steps to remedy it.
4. Have periodontal disease treated.
If your gums are eroding or there are unwanted pockets of bacteria in them, your dentist can perform a treatment to help your gums heal. They can scale and plane your teeth, which means they will remove plaque and bacteria from the roots of your teeth using special tools. You may be given a local anesthetic for this procedure to reduce your discomfort. You may also need to have the roots of your teeth smoothed, which will allow your gums to adhere to them once more.
For more information, contact a dentist about the dental services they offer.
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