One secret to having beautiful teeth is taking exceptional care of your gums. Gum disease is completely preventable, yet is one of the most common oral diseases afflicting Americans today. It isn’t difficult to maintain healthy gums, either, just follow these five tips!
1. Brush Smarter
If you’re brushing your teeth twice per day, but still have bleeding or sore gums, it may be because you’re brushing your teeth too hard. If you brush with vigorous sawing motions, you run the risk of continually damaging your gums every time you brush. Check out our May blog post to discover proper brushing technique!
2. Floss
Many people forego daily flossing and mistakenly think brushing is enough, but this myth couldn’t be further from the truth. Flossing keeps harmful bacteria and food particles from building up between your teeth and under your gumline, so it is critical to floss every day for healthy and clean gums.
3. Quit or Avoid Smoking
Smoking stifles your immune response to infections so bacteria that a healthy body could normally fight off becomes more powerful if you’re a smoker. Don’t put yourself at unnecessary risk of developing gum disease and oral cancer! Quitting smoking can be very hard, but it will ultimately be worthwhile for your oral health, overall health, and quality of life.
4. Eat a Balanced Diet
A diet rich in calcium, protein, and fiber will help promote strong and healthy teeth and gums. Incorporate more dairy, beans, legumes, fresh fruits and vegetables, and water into your diet to improve your oral health. Avoiding sugary foods and simple carbohydrates like candy, soda, and pastries will help curb plaque production as well.
5. See Our Dentists Biannually
Swollen, abnormally red, and bleeding gums are signs of early-stage gum disease. Depending on your lifestyle, gum disease can develop at a rapid pace! Come see our dentists every six months to check that you don’t have gum disease, or, if you do, so we can catch it and treat it in its early stages. Doing so will save you future discomfort, time, and money.
We Are Here to Help You Have a Healthy Smile!
At Farmington Dental and Orthodontics, we know just how important having clean and healthy gums is to having a healthy smile. We offer periodontal care, including deep cleanings, so that no matter the state of your gums, we can help your oral health get back on track. Contact us to schedule an appointment today!
