Almost half of American adults over the age of 30 have some sort of gum disease. If you don’t want to end up as one of them, you need to learn how to have healthy gums.
If you already have some sort of dental disease, you can reverse some of the damage by learning the basics of caring for gums. Healthy teeth and gums are conducive to your overall systemic health and wellness. Ultimately, you should consult a dentist if your gum issues are impeding on your everyday life; we recommend that you get fillings or dental implants in Arlington.
Cleaning gums regularly is part of keeping healthy, but there is so much more to maintaining dental health. Read on to find out 5 tips for healthy gums.
Table of Contents
1. Eat Right
What you put into your body doesn’t only affect your stomach. Your gums and teeth feel the effects of whatever food you consume on a regular basis. You need to eat foods high in vitamins and minerals.
Focus on eating nutrient-rich healthy foods. Avoid sugary foods when possible to help reduce plaque buildup between your gums. This can help lead to gum degradation and gingivitis.
2. Avoid Tobacco Use
Tobacco use and smoking are the mortal enemies of healthy gums. Smoke degrades your teeth, gums, and overall dental health. Smoke causes gums to recede and stains them as well.
Chewing tobacco or other forms of oral tobacco use are even worse and can lead to gum diseases such as mouth cancer. Also, the fiberglass found in chew causes your gums to bleed and degrades their integrity.
3. Brush Your Gums Twice a Day
Most people know that brushing their teeth twice a day is the foundation of a good oral routine. What many people neglect is brushing below their gum-line as well.
Brushing your gums keeps them healthy and you should incorporate it into your teeth brushing routine. If your gums bleed from brushing, you need to do it more often or it will get worse over time.
4. How to Have Healthy Gums by Flossing
Brushing your teeth and gums alone is not enough. You also need to floss every day to ensure proper gum health. Make sure to be gentle and thorough. If your gums start to bleed from flossing it means you have neglected them.
Counteract this by being more gentle with your flossing methods and keep at it. When your gums no longer bleed after flossing you know they are much healthier. Healthy gums are one of the many benefits of flossing.
5. Remedy Swollen Gums Early
If your gums are inflamed and swollen they will only get worse with time. You need to remedy this problem early to minimize further dental damage. Consult a professional if you can’t remedy swollen gums by brushing and flossing.
If your braces are giving you swollen gums this is a different situation that merits a specific course of action. Consult your orthodontist if your braces keep irritating your gums.
Keep Your Gums Healthy
Without healthy gums, your teeth will degrade and your overall oral hygiene will suffer. Gum diseases such as gingivitis can be painful and unsightly. You need to learn how to have healthy gums now to prevent them.
To keep your gums healthy, use the 5 tips in this guide. Even if your gums are a bit inflamed now these tips can also help them get back to top shape. For other great information about how to live a healthy life, check back with us.
