Pendleton Dentist Shares Proper Gum Care Tips
Everyone knows the importance of proper oral health. However, many of us don’t think about how vital healthy gums can be to help maintain a happy and healthy smile. By not taking proper care of your gums, you will be allowing bacteria to attack your gums, which leads to a multitude of complications further down the road. Let’s look at why healthy gums are so important and a few tips to maintain proper gum health.
The Importance of Healthy Gums
Your gums are what helps to keep your teeth in place and when your gums become infected, this can put all your teeth at risk and can lead to severe complications such as gingivitis. Healthy gums should appear firm and pink and should not present any swelling anywhere around the base of your teeth.
They should appear to fit snuggly around your teeth and should not bleed when you brush or floss. Therefore, if your gums appear to be receding, swell or bleed often, it’s important that you seek help from your dentist to prevent things from getting any worse.
Risk Factors That Contribute to Unhealthy Gums
Studies have shown that nearly half of the American population have some form of periodontal disease present in their mouths and it’s important to note that everyone is at risk of developing this type of disease. However, there are several factors that contribute to an unhealthy smile and can be detrimental to the health of your gums.
For example, people who smoke are much likelier to develop gum disease than those who abstain. Furthermore, those who suffer from auto-immune diseases, diabetes or women who are pregnant are also much likelier to develop such condition if they do not take proper care of their gums. Lastly, sugary diets are a leading cause of unhealthy gums and should always be avoided as much as possible.
Taking Proper Care of Your Gums
Fortunately, there are many things that you can do to keep your gums in optimal health. By following these tips, you will be much better suited to keeping your smile healthy and will prevent any form of gum disease from developing.
• Ask you dental professional to show you how to brush your teeth properly. A proper technique can mean a world of difference when it comes to keeping your gums unhealthy and preventing them from receding.
• Brushing and flossing regularly is another way that you can prevent gum disease. Experts agree that you should be brushing at least twice a day and flossing once.
• Using mouthwash after brushing and flossing can also help you keep your gums in tip-top shape. This helps wash away any leftover food particles and will kill any remaining bacteria that brushing and flossing left behind.
Lastly, the best thing you can do for your gums is to visit your Pendleton dentist regularly. This allows you to get insight into the health of your gums and he or she will be able to help you combat any gum disease that may already begun developing.
