Keep Your Gums Healthy with These 5 Best Practices

Sadly, about 50% of American adults are struggling with gum disease. While the early stages are characterized by red, puffy, and irritated gums, it can progress quickly if left untreated, resulting in serious consequences like tooth loss. The good news is that maintaining healthy gums doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, it’s quite the opposite! Here are five easy ways to keep your gums healthy.

1. Floss Each Morning or Evening

Brushing consistently is no doubt important. However, the bristles only clean about 60% of the surface of your teeth. To remove plaque, food particles, and debris from the other 40%, you need to floss. If you’ve fallen out of the habit of flossing daily, then try setting a reminder on your phone each morning or evening. Or, put a big, bright Post-It Note on your bathroom mirror so you don’t forget!

2. Visit Your Dentist Every Six Months for a Cleaning

In short, your dentist has tools that provide a level of cleaning that simply cannot be attained at home. That’s why it’s so important that you visit them every six months for a dental checkup and cleaning! If you’ve struggled with gum disease in the past, your dentist may even recommend coming in every three months to make sure the infection doesn’t come back.

3. Eat Plenty of Vitamin-Rich Foods

Naturally, your diet plays a role in your oral health. While cutting back on foods and beverages with added sugar is always a good idea, it’s sometimes helpful to focus more on the things you can add to your diet. For example, instead of telling yourself you can’t have ice cream for the sake of your smile, try adding two types of vegetables to your dinner. This will pack your meal with nutrients, bump up the satiety factor, and help keep your gums healthy from the inside out!

4. Rinse with Mouthwash for 30-60 Seconds

Using mouthwash is important; using mouthwash correctly is vital. The next time you reach for it, take a few seconds to read the instructions on the back. Following these steps will help you thoroughly clean your mouth and prevent oral health issues like gingivitis from arising in the future.

5. Avoid Unhealthy Dental Habits, like Smoking

Be honest… have you adopted an unhealthy dental habit or two over the years? Don’t let that get you down; there is no time like the present to start fresh! Smoking and biting your nails are just a few examples of behaviors that can negatively affect the condition of your gums. If you’ve had trouble quitting in the past, don’t hesitate to ask for help. Your dentist may even have some recommendations that have helped other patients stop!

About the Practice

At Bear Creek Family Dentistry, we focus on all aspects of oral health, not just your teeth. That’s why we take the time at each checkup to examine the condition of your gums and screen for oral cancer. This allows us to intervene with the appropriate treatment in the early stages, helping us get your healthy smile back on track as soon as possible. If you want to learn more about gum health or would like to schedule an appointment with our team, visit our website or call the location that’s closest to you!