Learn Gum Health Tips from the Pros at Carolina Family Dental

Did you know that the purpose of your gums is to protect your teeth? That’s right; your gums are soft tissue that helps to provide a seal around every single tooth in your mouth. So, you know what that means? It means they’re very important for your oral health! Some people don’t always realize this, so we decided to put together some gum health tips to enlighten our patients on ways of how to keep their smile looking and feeling healthy in the long run.

The Importance of Gum Health 

Your gums, also known as gingiva, are meant to protect your teeth against infection. So if you’re not taking good care of your gums, then you’re making yourself prone to infection in your teeth - and no one wants that! Gum disease like gingivitis can be painful - causing tenderness and even bleeding in your gums. While early stages of gum disease may be treated, those who don’t follow any steps to correct this issue may end up with periodontitis, which can destroy not only your gums, but also your teeth and connective tissues. 

Gum Health Tips 

If you want to keep your gums healthy and avoid gum disease, there are several gum care things you can do. These include:

•Visiting the Dentist: It’s highly recommended that you schedule regular dental checkups in order to keep your gums and teeth free of diseases. Visiting the dentist at least twice a year will allow your dentist to throughly clean your teeth and check for any signs of issues with your oral health.

•Brush & Floss Your Teeth: This may seem like an obvious thing to say, but we can’t stress the importance of brushing and flossing your teeth enough. Brushing your teeth is one of the most important things you can do to keep your gums and teeth healthy. It’s recommended that everyone should brush their teeth at least twice a day and use toothpaste that has fluoride in it. You’ll also want to check your toothpaste’s packaging for the ADA seal of approval. In addition to brushing, flossing your teeth is also imperative for gum health. Flossing helps to remove plaque and food that’s stuck between your teeth and gums. If you don’t remove unwanted plaque and food from these areas, it can lead to a buildup of bacteria, also known as tartar, which causes gum disease.

•Use a Good Mouthwash: When you go to the grocery store, you’ll see several types of mouthwash. While they all may seem like viable options for your oral hygiene routine, it’s important to note that there are mouthwashes that are meant for keeping your mouth healthy and others that are strictly meant to make your teeth look whiter. When purchasing your mouthwash, be sure to choose one that will help to prevent gum disease, reduce plaque & tartar, and help remove food from your teeth and gums. 

What do you think of our gum health tips? If you’re ready for a dental checkup to see how healthy your gums are, feel free to contact us here at Carolina Family Dental!