It probably won't surprise you to learn that keeping your gums healthy takes many of the same steps as keeping your teeth healthy. Here are just a few reminders to help you keep both gums and teeth in top condition.
Caring for your gums goes hand in hand with caring for your teeth. You probably understand how the following habits help your teeth, but here’s a little about how they keep your gums healthy, too.
Daily Flossing
When it comes to your gum health, flossing ranks just above brushing your teeth. Daily 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. Plaque build up can quickly lead to gum disease.
Brushing Thoroughly
Brushing thoroughly keeps plaque off of your teeth and helps keep it off your gums, too. Plaque buildup is especially abundant along the gum line, so when you’re brushing your teeth be sure to move your toothbrush over your gums as well.
Regular Professional Cleanings & Checkups
Your dentist can detect the symptoms of gum disease early, provided you visit them regularly. Visit your dentist for a checkup and cleaning every six months, so that any developing problems can be treated before they become serious.
Remember that professional cleanings are really the only way to remove tartar (hardened dental plaque) from your teeth. As vigilant as you may be about brushing and flossing, tartar will still eventually build up and need to be removed by a dental professional.
Quit Smoking
Smoking is strongly linked with the onset of gum disease. Smoking weakens your immune system, and this makes it harder to fight off a gum infection. Additionally, smoking makes it more difficult for your gums to heal once they’ve been damaged. So if you need yet another reason to quit smoking, do it to keep your gums healthy!