Do you take proper care of your gums? Healthy gums are firm, pink, and resistant to frequent bleeding. Nevertheless, many individuals experience symptoms of unhealthy gingiva, including tenderness, swelling, pain when chewing, bad breath, loose teeth, inflammation, redness, bleeding while flossing, etc.
Unless individuals pay sufficient attention to oral hygiene, there is a high risk of gum disease development, which starts as gingivitis. Gums can also shrink over time due to atrophy and cause difficulties in wearing dentures. Make sure you learn more about dentures for flat gums.
The following tips will help you take proper care of your gingiva.
Brush your teeth and gums daily
Brushing your teeth and gingiva properly on a daily basis is the secret to healthy gums. Individuals should brush their teeth twice daily for two minutes by using fluoride toothpaste and a toothbrush with soft bristles. You should replace the toothbrush every three to four months once the bristles start fraying.
Your teeth should be brushed at an angle of 45 degrees in relation to the gums while moving the toothbrush in short strokes. The inside of your front teeth should be cleaned as well by turning the brush in a vertical direction. Brushing keeps the gums perfectly healthy and removes all the particles that eat the teeth away. It doesn’t only remove plaque from the surface of teeth but also from the gingiva.
Nevertheless, individuals are strongly advised not to over-brush. Keep in mind that brushing for longer than four minutes and more than twice daily threatens to damage the enamel, whose role is to protect the teeth. When enamel is worn down, dentin is exposed. The latter consists of microscopic hollow canals. Once dentin is no longer protected by enamel, its tiny canals allow acids, heat, and cold to stimulate the nerves and cause sensitivity.
Another tip related to brushing is not brushing your teeth too hard. It’s paramount not to apply more pressure than enamel can handle. Enamel has enough strength to provide protection from all the actions that happen inside the mouth, such as eating and drinking. Follow this URLhttps://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/tooth-enamel-erosion-restoration#:~:text=Enamel%20is%20the%20thin%20outer,can%20see%20light%20through%20it, for more information about enamel erosion and restoration.
Floss every day
While daily flossing is a habit neglected by most individuals, it’s considered essential for oral and gum health. Flossing is effective in removing plaque and food particles from the space between your gingiva and teeth. If these particles remain here, they might cause tartar, referring to a hard bacterial buildup that leads to gum disease.
Flossing has the potential to eliminate the bacteria hiding right under the gum line. Hence, performing this task daily enables bacterial buildup to be reduced. There is no strict timing when it comes to flossing, provided you floss every single day.
Use mouthwash
Another helpful tip for keeping your gingiva healthy is to use mouthwash. There are two kinds of mouthwash available for purchase, cosmetic and therapeutic. The latter is beneficial for preventing gum disease, reducing the plaque amount, removing food particles from the oral cavity, and slowing down the speed at which tartar forms.
Mouthwash, however, shouldn’t be used to replace brushing and flossing. The instructions for usage are rather straightforward. You should pour twenty milliliters of mouthwash into a cup and then empty the content into your mouth. The next step is to swish for thirty seconds and eventually spit out the liquid in the sink.
Schedule dental checkups regularly
Individuals can preserve their gum health by scheduling regular dental checkups that include a professional mouth cleaning. It’s the only effective way of tartar removal. Professional cleaning is also helpful in the elimination of plaque that individuals might have missed during the brushing process.
In addition, during regular dental visits, dentists can identify the early signs of gingivitis and gum disease. By detecting these problems on time, dentists help individuals prevent more serious gingiva problems further on.
Practice a healthy diet
A healthy diet is another important aspect of keeping your gingiva clean and healthy. While most individuals overlook their diet when it comes to oral health, the food you consume has a huge influence on gum health. For instance, starchy foods feed mouth bacteria and might result in gum disease. Instead of consuming sugar-filled ingredients, you should consider including healthier foods in your diet.
Fresh vegetables and fruits not only provide high nutritional value but help people clean their teeth and mouth. Celery and carrots are worth adding to your diet. Drinking plenty of water is also essential for washing bacteria away and keeping the levels of saliva high. Additionally, foods rich in calcium help in making the bones stronger.
Try natural remedies
There is a wide selection of natural remedies that promote healthy gums, such as neem, cranberry, tea tree oil, oil pulling, vitamin C, etc. For instance, neem is a beneficial extract that comes from the country of India. Its antibacterial properties have positive effects in preventing gingivitis and minimizing plaque. Conversely, cranberry is considered beneficial for the gingiva due to its ability to prevent bacteria from sticking to the teeth.
Tea tree oil is another beneficial natural remedy that reduces gingiva inflammation. The best way to take advantage of its benefits is by using toothpaste containing this oil as an ingredient. Vitamin C is also boasted of protecting gum health by reducing the risk of periodontal disease. If looking to increase your vitamin C intake, you should consume more foods like kiwi, papaya, grapefruit, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, mango, and strawberries.
Another Indian natural remedy existing for centuries is oil pulling. It requires using a tablespoon of sesame or coconut oil and swishing it around the mouth for approximately fifteen minutes. By incorporating this habit into your daily life, you’ll reduce the buildup of plaque and receive protection against gingivitis.
A final note
The health of your gingiva is as important as your teeth health.
Simple oral care at home in combination with regular dental checkups is all you need!
