Your gums are the soft tissue that surrounds and supports the teeth. They provide a space for healthy bone and tooth attachment, keep your teeth anchored in the jawbone, and they help with chewing, speaking, and swallowing.
Just like your teeth, your gums require proper care to remain healthy.
The soft tissue that surrounds your teeth provides protection from bacteria and food particles. Gums can become inflamed if you don’t brush and floss regularly.
How to improve your gum health.
- Brush your teeth regularly.
- Brush at least twice daily for two minutes at a time.
- Use a soft-bristled brush and fluoride toothpaste.
- Brush in small circles, from the gum line to the tip of the tooth.
- Brush your tongue to remove bacteria.
- Floss regularly and thoroughly.
- Take 20 inches of floss and wrap it around both middle fingers.
- Slide a thin section of dental floss between two teeth, moving it up and down against the gum line. Be sure not to snap or yank on the floss; take short strokes with ease.
- Repeat this motion until you’ve reached all areas of your mouth where there are visible gaps between teeth, including under the gum line (the area closest to where your tooth meets your gums).
- Visit your dentist regularly for cleanings and exams.
Regular cleanings and checkups at your dentist will prevent gum disease, and keep your teeth looking clean and bright!
Practicing good oral hygiene can help you prevent gum disease and maintain good gum health.
You can practice good oral hygiene to help you prevent gum disease and maintain your gum health. Without good oral hygiene practices, you will risk developing gum disease, also called periodontal disease or periodontitis. It damages the bone around your teeth and affects how well they fit together in your mouth.
It’s caused by plaque – a sticky film of bacteria that forms on tooth surfaces when you eat or drink anything sugary. Plaque hardens into tartar (also known as calculus) if it stays on your teeth too long without being brushed away with toothpaste and flossed regularly after meals or smoking cigarettes.
Plaque irritates the gums and causes them to become inflamed (gingivitis). If left untreated, this inflammation can lead to periodontitis. The results of untreated periodontitis include tooth loss and bone loss due to a lack of support from surrounding tissues.
In short, practicing regular brushing, flossing, and dental visits will prevent the development of gingivitis and periodontitis, and potentially prevent further complications like tooth and bone loss.
