It’s easy to overlook gums and think oral health is all about teeth. After all, when you smile, your pearly whites are what the world witnesses first. Gums may not contribute to the aesthetics, but they do support your teeth. Therefore, gums are equally important, and you must keep them healthy.
Why Do You Need To Look After Your Gums?
Gums protect teeth and bones from bacteria. The gum “seal” encapsulating a tooth is quite impervious to bacteria and plaque. It also helps to anchor the tooth in its place, so you don’t have to deal with a wobbly bite.
Gum deterioration begins with plaque formation. Plaque is a thin film formed on the tooth’s surface where bacteria proliferate. This layer irritates gums and leads to the first sign of gum disease: gingivitis. You will experience sore and bleeding gums. If you don’t act quickly, gums will start to recede, and the plaque will build up in the gaps left behind.
Plaque turns into hard tartar, which is clingy and difficult to remove. Tartar develops; the gums recede further, and in the end, this bacterial rally reaches the bone. What started as gingivitis has progressed into advanced periodontitis, with a risk of bone loss. As you now know, the start of gum illness may seem mild, but the end can be catastrophic. Therefore, it’s better to keep gums healthy and stop the advent of gum disease. Here is how you can do that.
How Keep Your Gums Healthy?
1) Floss and brush daily. Impeccable oral hygiene is your frontline defense against plaque. Therefore, try to brush after every meal and floss at least once a day. Flossing helps you to clear out food remnants from tough-to-reach areas.
2) If you smoke, we have bad news because smoking is strongly associated with the early onset of gum diseases. Smoking weakens your immune system and your body’s ability to fight gum diseases. Hence, it would be best to drop the cigarette to stave off gum diseases.
3) Try to maintain a balanced diet, one that’s full of fiber and vitamin K. Try to limit sugary foods, as oral bacteria savor sugar and carbohydrates. On the other hand, Vitamin K can help alleviate bleeding gums and is also quite beneficial for your teeth. Food sources rich in Vitamin K are leafy green vegetables, including collard and turnip greens, kale, spinach, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and lettuce.
4) This whole mess is made by bacteria, so give them a tough time using fluoride-rich toothpaste and antiseptic mouthwash. Fluoride strengthens the teeth and hinders the progress of plaque. Likewise, antiseptic mouthwash does what you expect it to: kill harmful bacteria in your mouth and top it up with a fresh and fragrant after breath.
5) Gingivitis is easily reversible; if you catch the progress early in action, you can get on top of it without breaking a sweat. Hence, always opt for regular dental checkups and cleanings, as your dentist will keep you updated about your oral health. Looking for a complete dental checkup? Bayside Dental is at your service. You can call us at (979) 330-4113 for more information.