You may not be surprised to learn that keeping your gums healthy requires many of the same steps as keeping your teeth healthy.
Taking care of your gum health goes hand in hand with taking care of your dental health. You may already know how the following habits help your teeth, but here’s how they keep your gums healthy, too.
Flossing
When it comes to your gum health, flossing might even rank higher than brushing your teeth. Flossing cleans out the crevices between your teeth and gums that your toothbrush can’t reach.
This helps to prevent plaque from building up in these tight areas, which might otherwise lead to gum disease.
Brushing
Removing plaque from your teeth helps keep it off your gums, too. Plaque buildup is always especially abundant along the gum line, so when you’re brushing your teeth, be sure that your toothbrush moves over your gums as well. Just remember to brush gently!
Regular Professional Cleanings & Checkups
Your dentist is able to detect developing gum disease symptoms early, provided you have regular appointments. You should aim to visit the dentist for a checkup and cleaning every six months, so that developing problems can be treated before they become serious.
Professional cleanings are the only way to remove tartar (hardened dental plaque). You may be vigilant about brushing and flossing, but tartar will still eventually build up, and it needs to be removed by a dental professional.
Quit Smoking
Add this to the long list of reasons to quit smoking: Smoking is strongly linked to the onset of gum disease. Smoking weakens your immune system, making it harder to fight off a gum infection. Additionally, smoking makes it more difficult for your gums to heal once they’ve been damaged.